• Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/achva

Money and Payments

Information regarding the pricing and payments for summer 2010 may be found on this page. Expect this information to be roughly similar for 2011. The information can be found in the following sections:

• What does the price include?
• When are payments due?
• What discounts are available?
• What is the refund schedule?
• What methods can be use for payment?
• Are there any late fees?

Prices listed for each program include all hotel stays, 3 meals a day, round-trip airfare from New York (unless otherwise noted) and attractions and admission fees for regularly scheduled activities. An Achva backpack is included as well. Prices do not include spending money for gifts, games and snacks or any optional purchases that strike your fancy. While the backpack is free, T-shirts, sweatshirts and other Achva-wear may cost extra.

The price includes the cost of your plane ticket at the time we reserve the seats. Any substantial surcharges, baggage surcharges or fees added later by the airline, may need to be passed along to the ticket holders. We try our best to minimize these costs but we cannot predict what the airlines may add to the ticket price.

We always try to keep our program prices as low as we can so as to allow as many people to participate as possible. Our aim is to provide top quality tours and even continue to improve our programs, despite the rising costs of travel.

All prices found on our website, printed on a brochure, or given out over the phone or email are subject to possible change. We rarely ever change a price and only when circumstances are such that we feel we have absolutely no other option..

You are welcome to pay for Achva by the following methods:

• For the first $500 deposit, we accept check, cash or credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Amex or Discover)
• For the balance of payments, we only accept payment by check or cash. Please do not send cash by mail. Checks should be in U.S. funds only.

We are unable to make exceptions to this policy.

The following discounts are provided:

• Second Child - $500 total for both siblings
• Returnees: $50 (good until January 15, 2010)

Discounts are not combinable; largest discount applies. All discounts are subtracted from the final balance due and are not applicable to deposits or the first payment. Discounts are forfeited if you are subject to late fees.

Achva pays for services including flights, hotels, chartered buses and attraction admissions well in advance of the program. These payments to our vendors and providers must be made on a timely basis to ensure we have a spectacular summer all prepared for you when you start your trip. Therefore, we need to collect payments upfront on a timely basis. Of course, you are welcome to pay in full upon registration, but for the majority of you, we have a schedule of payments which need to made as the summer approaches.

Here is the normal schedule of payments:

• A $500 deposit is due upon registration. Until March 25 this is always refundable up to 3 business days after we receive your deposit. This deposit may be paid by credit card or check!
• A $3,000 ($1500 for East) payment is due on February 5, 2010
• The balance of your bill is due on April 12, 2010

All payments, with the exception of the $500 deposit, are payable by personal check, cashiers check or cash. Of course, please do not send cash in the mail.

No participant will be allowed on the program without a fully paid balance. Those who require a special payment schedule should contact the Achva office. All special payment schedules MUST BE APPROVED in advance or risk late penalties or loss of your space on the program. If you do not make your payments on time, you could risk losing your place on the program. See below for a list of our late fees.

Many of the expenses that Achva pays in advance to our vendors are non-refundable. Therefore, we have developed the following refund schedule to help us cover some of those non-refundable expenses should you choose to cancel from the program.

Upon cancellation, please notify our office by phone or email immediately. However, refunds are processed solely upon receipt of WRITTEN NOTIFICATION to Achva. To accomplish this, you are welcome to fax, send a signed letter, or email using the email address we have for you on file with your official notice of cancellation.

If your written cancellation is received on or before:

East:

• April 9, 2010 - payments are refundable less $500
• May 24, 2010 - payments are refundable less $1,000
• Up to 7 days prior to program start, payments are refundable less $1,500

West, Israel:

• April 9, 2010 - payments are refundable less $500
• May 2, 2010 - payments are refundable less $1,000
• June 1, 2010 - payments are refundable less $1,500
• Up to 7 days prior to program start, payments are refundable less $2,500

Europe/Israel:

• March 25, 2010 - payments are refundable less $500
• April 23, 2010 - payments are refundable less $1,000
• May 24, 2010 - payments are refundable less $2,000
• Up to 7 days prior to program start, payments are refundable less $4,000

For All Programs:

• Within 7 days prior to program start, payments are no longer refundable.

For people with serious and unexpected medical emergencies, please contact us to determine the amount of your refund. Also, please remember that once the program begins, there are no refunds upon ejection for any reason from the program. Fully refunded credit card payments may incur a small processing fee to recover the percentage kept by the credit card company.

Late fees are not a punishment or a penalty but simply our way of covering expenses associated with not having the funds we need in advance of the program. The following fees (payable by credit card) will apply to all accounts (unless approved for a special payment schedule):

• If you are not fully paid for the program by April 23, 2010 (For East: May 3), there is a late fee of $50
• If you are not fully paid for the program by May 13, 2010 (For East: June 4), there is a late fee of $150 (including the $50 fee above) and there may be additional penalties incurred for the late issuance of your plane tickets.

These late fees apply regardless of when you actually registered for the program or the reason for the delay. The fees kick in either when you register early but do not pay on time, or when you register very late.