Booking & Payment Procedure

• Scanned soft copies of the passports of guests/pax are required along with 25% advance payment of ticket value at booking.
• Remaining amount payable 60 days prior to the date of departure.
• If Payment is not made 60 days before the departure date a penalty of 12% of the ticket value will be charged.
• Booking made 60 days prior to departure should include full payment, made through O&M authorized operator, along with all required details.
• The exchange rate in the transaction will be in accordance with RBI rules.
• GST is not included in the booking and will be charged separately.
• For children up to 5 years, the tariff charge will be 15%
• For the children between 5 years to 12 years, the tariff charge will be 75%
• The maximum occupancy for every cabin is 2 Pax.
• For Indian Passport holders and OCI card holders, the tariff is fixed in Indian currency. (valid proofs must be submitted at the time of booking; in case of any discrepancy in documents, Dollar rates will apply)

Cancellation Rules for Deduction of amount-

• In case of cancellation between 120 to 90 days before travel, 10% of the ticket value will be deducted as cancellation charges.
• In case of cancellation between 89 to 60 days before travel, 25% of the ticket value will be deducted as cancellation charges.
• In case of cancellation between 59 to 30 days before travel, 50% of the ticket value will be deducted as cancellation charges.
• In case of cancellation less than 29 days of travel, no refund will be given to the guest.
• If Palace on Wheels price bookings are cancelled by the operator, a 100% refund will be issued (without any claims/charges).
• No compensation or refund will be given for the pre/post accommodations, excursions or airline tickets etc. booked by the guest or their travel agent.
• All the rights are reserved for the operator under RTDC to cancel the bookings anytime and in that case, 100% refund will be given.
• In case of low occupancy, the operator will review the bookings and apprise agents accordingly.
• The Operator has the right to review bookings between 45 to 30 days before the travel date and inform agents or individuals officially about bookings.
• The Minimum occupancy required to operate is 50% or 17 cabins.

Booking by GSAs/Travel Agents & Commission Structure

• For GSAs- To motivate GSAs/Travel Agents, performance-based incentives are available after completing 100 bookings in one season, dealt with on case-to-case basis. The incentives should be available only after 100% booking payment received by the operator. A MOU shall be signed with the operator including their T&C.
• For Non-GSAs/Travel Agents- There is a 12% commission (inclusive of all the taxes and dues) will be provided only after 100% payment of booking is revised by the operator.
• Any travel agent who complete more than 50 bookings of POW in a season will be eligible opportunity to become a GSA subject to other criteria.
• All statutory compliances, such as TDS, POS tax or any other liabilities should be cleared by the GSA/agent.
• 70% of the seats will be reserved for the bulk booking done by GSA/travel agents while the remaining 30% will be reserved for individuals for online booking. In case of fulfillment of any category, other categories will be opened.
• Empanelment of GSAs with the operator is mandatory.

Direct Individual/Online Booking and discount structure

• Individual booking for the POW can be made directly through the RTDC operator website.
• Charges of individual bookings will be in accordance with the operator’s policies.
• On direct individual bookings, special offers will be given to every guest.
• Non transferable vouchers of 20$ per day per pax will be issued. The vouchers can only be utilized on the same trip/tour.
• In direct bookings, no agent commission is allowed.
• For smooth and transparent bookings and cancellation, operator booking systems are implemented.
• For charter direct/ individual booking, online booking does not apply.

Part Journey

• For existing bookings, RTDC will be accommodated by the operator but in the case of new booking, part bookings can only be initiated at the discretion of the operator depending on the occupancy
• Full itinerary will be included in the new booking i.e. 7 nights but in case, the guest leaves the trip/journey in start, no refund will be awarded to the guest as per the policies.

Procedure for confirmed bookings

• The tickets will only be confirmed after 100% payment of ticket value, along with submission of passenger details and passport scans at least 60 days before the journey. In case, passenger details and passport scans are not received prior 45 days, bookings are considered as cancelled and no refund will be issued.
• No substitution will be allowed in passenger names and in case of any change/modification, will result booking being considered as cancelled. The new name will be considered as a fresh booking and conformity is subject to the availability.
• For charter booking offers, if bookings are less than 20 pax then the operator can give an option of GSA/Travel Agents/Individual Traveler. For GSA/Travel Agents/Individual travelers will be offered a full refund or rescheduling option to the next tour at no extra cost.

No Show/En Route Termination of Tour

• No show: In case of non-arrival of guests, no refund or adjustment will be provided in future bookings. The booking amount will be considered as forfeited. But in the case of natural disasters/calamity/security events, etc. the situation will be considered by the operator for tourist satisfaction and comfort.
• En Route termination of tour: In case of En Route termination of tour by the guest, no refund will be given and the unused part of the tour will be considered as fortified.

For Charter Booking

• Exclusive charters with minimum 50 pax/travelers can be booked along with Presidential & Super Deluxe Cabins for POW.
• For the trips that fall within New Year and Christmas, no charter booking is allowed.
• Charter bookings are typically for a 7 nights itinerary however, it can be done for lesser nights in view of booking potential.
• The charter booking is available for existing POW tours itinerary. However, for diversion (outside Rajasthan state) the permission of RTDC/Indian Railways is mandatory and the palace on wheels cost is required to be disclosed depending on different cases.
• No provision of free of cost booking is available above charter bookings.

Payment Policy for Charte

• For the booking confirmation, 10% of the charter cost at the booking page.
• Before 120 days of departure, 15% of the charter cost.
• Before 90 days of departure, 25% of the charter cost.
• Remaining amount payable 60 days prior departure.
• If paid after 60 days, 12% will be charged as penalty.

Cancellation Rates for Charter

• In case of cancellation before 120 days or prior, 10% amount will be deducted as cancellation charges.
• In case of cancellation between 119 to 90 days prior to journey, 25% amount will be deducted as cancellation charges.
• In case of cancellation between 89 to 60 days prior to journey, 50% amount will be deducted as cancellation charges.

Additional Points

• In charter bookings, the purpose should clearly mentioned e.g. special occasion or corporate event, etc. along with the list of guests and their valid ID proofs./li>
• In case of any unforeseen circumstances, the O&M operator reserve the rights to cancel or reschedule booking to ensure safety and security of all the tourists.
• The booking party will be liable for any damage or loss to the train caused by the booking party.
• Seat sharing in the coach will be permitted for excursions; however, accompanying guides or vehicles will incur additional charges

Special Business Promotion schemes for Palace on Wheels train ticket price will be declared by the operator from time to time. The journeys falling on 26th Jan, 2nd Oct and other special dates may be modified or planned according to the instructions or guidelines from state authorities/Indian Railway/Nominated agencies and RTDC. This is beyond the control of the operator and management.