TERMS & CONDITIONS

Thank you for choosing Tern & Meridian to design your journey. These terms explain how we work together, what you can expect from me, and what I ask of you in return. Please read them carefully before we begin.

Tern & Meridian is a bespoke travel advisory owned and operated by Piper Eskridge, an independent contractor and independent affiliate of Christopherson Andavo Travel. California Seller of Travel No. 2100177; Washington Seller of Travel No. 604092566. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. Throughout these terms, "Tern & Meridian," "we," "us," and "our" refer to Tern & Meridian, its advisor, and its host agency. "You" and "your" refer to every traveler in your party and the person making the booking.

Travel Planning Fee

Every Tern & Meridian journey is designed from scratch, and a planning fee of $200 per trip secures my time, research, and expertise. Planning begins once the fee is received. Your planning fee is deducted from your design and management fee, which is based on the logistics and time your journey requires. I will confirm that fee with you in writing before anything is booked.

• Non-refundable: The planning fee is non-refundable once planning has begun. This includes situations where you choose not to book, cancel your trip, or are unable to travel for personal, health, or logistical reasons, and where a supplier or outside event cancels your trip.

• Separate from supplier refunds: Any refund issued by an airline, hotel, cruise line, tour operator, or other supplier covers only what you paid that supplier. The planning fee compensates the work already completed on your behalf and is excluded from those refunds.

• Revisions: Your fee includes 2 rounds of itinerary revisions. Substantial changes after you approve your itinerary, such as a new destination or new travel dates, may require an additional fee, which I will always discuss with you first.

Our Role as Your Advisor

Tern & Meridian acts as a sales agent for the airlines, hotels, lodges, cruise and expedition lines, tour operators, destination management companies, guides, and other providers named in your itinerary ("Suppliers"). I carefully vet every partner I work with, but Suppliers are independent businesses outside my control.

Accordingly, Tern & Meridian is not responsible for the acts, omissions, schedule changes, service failures, financial default, or refund and future-credit decisions of any Supplier. Your travel plans may be changed or cancelled by a Supplier, a government authority, or another third party. In those cases, each Supplier's own terms, cancellation policies, and applicable law govern your rights and remedies, including any refund. You may be bound by a Supplier's terms whether or not you have read them, and I am happy to share them with you on request.

I have no special knowledge of any Supplier's financial condition and accept no liability for recommending a future travel credit in place of a refund when that is the option a Supplier offers.

Your Responsibilities as a Traveler

Eligibility and accuracy. By booking with Tern & Meridian, you confirm that you are at least 18 years of age and have the legal authority to enter into these terms and make travel arrangements. You accept financial responsibility for every booking you make, whether for yourself, members of your household, or others you are authorized to book for, and you confirm that all information you provide is true and accurate. You agree to make only legitimate reservations; speculative, false, or fraudulent bookings are prohibited.

Review your documents. Please review your itinerary, confirmations, and travel documents as soon as you receive them and let me know promptly about any errors. Each traveler's name must match their government-issued ID exactly.

Identification. U.S. domestic flights require a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or another accepted form of identification, such as a valid U.S. passport. You can confirm what is accepted at tsa.gov.

Passports, visas, and entry requirements. Every traveler is responsible for holding a valid passport and for obtaining any visas, electronic travel authorizations, vaccinations, or health documents required by each destination and connecting country. Many countries require passports to be valid for at least six months beyond your date of entry and to include blank pages. Some countries restrict entry for travelers with certain criminal records, and some require written consent from both parents for minors. Non-U.S. citizens may face different requirements. I will share know-before-you-go guidance for your destination, and you remain responsible for confirming and meeting these requirements. Travelers without proper documents may be denied boarding or entry at their own expense.

Check-in. Airlines generally recommend arriving at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights. Arriving after your airline's check-in deadline may result in denied boarding.

Local laws and customs. You agree to follow the laws, regulations, and reasonable instructions of Suppliers, guides, and local authorities while traveling. Suppliers may remove a traveler whose conduct endangers others, with no refund.

Health and fitness. Some journeys include remote locations, physical activity, wildlife encounters, altitude, or limited access to medical care. Please share any health, mobility, dietary, or accessibility needs with me during planning so I can design around them. You are responsible for consulting your physician and confirming you are fit for your chosen activities.

Prices, Fares, and Ticketing

Quoted prices. Prices, schedules, and availability are set by Suppliers and may change without notice until your booking is confirmed and paid. Quotes are based on availability at the time they are prepared.

Price increases after booking. Suppliers and governments may add surcharges after booking, including fuel surcharges, taxes, currency adjustments, or port fees. By booking, you consent to these increases and authorize the card on file to be charged for them.

Price decreases. If a Supplier lowers its price after you book, I will gladly ask whether an adjustment or rebooking is possible. Adjustments depend entirely on the Supplier's policy and are never guaranteed.

Airfare. I work to secure the best available fare for your needs at the time of booking, and fares may change afterward. Discounted fares often carry restrictions, and changing a carrier, flight, time, or route may result in a higher fare or change fees. Please contact me before making any changes.

Ticketing rules. Airlines prohibit booking practices such as hidden-city, point-beyond, and back-to-back ticketing, or buying a round-trip ticket for one-way travel. If you skip any flight segment, the airline may cancel the rest of your itinerary. You agree to be responsible for any fare difference or penalties an airline assesses as a result.

Overbooking. Airlines may overbook flights. Travelers denied boarding may be entitled to compensation under the airline's policy and applicable law. Overbooking and other flight disruptions can lead to missed connections, lost nights, or added expenses, which is one of the reasons travel insurance is required for every Tern & Meridian journey (see Travel Insurance below).

Payments, Changes, Cancellations, and Refunds

Deposits and final payments. Deposit amounts and final payment due dates are set by each Supplier and will be listed in your booking confirmation. You are responsible for paying by those dates. Missed payments may lead a Supplier to cancel your reservation and apply its cancellation penalties.

Changes and cancellations. Every change or cancellation is subject to each Supplier's policies and penalties, which can be significant close to departure. Please make all change and cancellation requests to me in writing so I can act on them promptly. Tern & Meridian may charge a processing fee for changes, cancellations, or refund requests handled on your behalf. The fee reflects the time and complexity involved, and I will confirm it with you before proceeding.

Flights. Airline changes or cancellations must be made before the originally scheduled departure. Unused tickets generally lose all value after departure.

Hotels and guaranteed reservations. Hotels and lodges are usually confirmed on a guaranteed payment basis, and cancellation deadlines vary by property. For changes made while you are traveling, please contact the Supplier directly.

Refunds. Refunds, when available, are issued according to each Supplier's policy and may arrive as a future travel credit. Tern & Meridian is not responsible for losses resulting from missed travel or from failing to follow a Supplier's change or cancellation policy.

Supplier bankruptcy. If a Supplier ceases operations or declares bankruptcy, it may be unable to honor reservations or issue refunds, and your recourse is with that Supplier. Travel insurance with financial default coverage is the best protection against this risk.

Chargebacks. When Tern & Meridian processes your payment, our service consists of advising you, facilitating your booking, and paying the Supplier. If a Supplier fails to provide its services, your recourse is against that Supplier. You agree to contact me to resolve any concern before disputing a charge, and you agree to reimburse reasonable costs, including legal fees, incurred in responding to an unauthorized chargeback.

Travel Insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance is required for every Tern & Meridian journey. Many of our destinations are remote, and a strong policy protects your investment and your wellbeing. I recommend coverage that includes trip cancellation and interruption, emergency medical care, medical evacuation, baggage, and Supplier financial default.

I am happy to help you compare plans. Each policy's own terms decide what is covered, including limits on pre-existing conditions, pandemics, and other exclusions, so please review your policy and direct coverage questions to the insurance provider. Descriptions of insurance shared by Tern & Meridian are general guidance only and are not a promise of coverage.

By booking with Tern & Meridian, you agree that if you choose to decline travel insurance, you accept full responsibility for any loss that insurance would have covered and hold Tern & Meridian harmless for that loss. Tern & Meridian is also not responsible for any claim an insurer denies.

Risks of Travel and Support While You Travel

Assumption of risk. Travel, and especially travel to remote regions, expedition voyages, and wildlife encounters, carries inherent risks. These include weather, natural disasters, political or civil unrest, terrorism, disease and pandemics, wildlife, limited medical facilities, and other events beyond anyone's control. The decision to travel is yours, and you travel with an understanding of these risks.

Safety resources. For current safety information, visit the U.S. Department of State at travel.state.gov and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). For health guidance, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov/travel. I will share relevant know-before-you-go information with you, and I have no special knowledge of dangers beyond what is publicly available. Before booking any international travel, please review current travel advisories, warnings, and entry restrictions issued by the U.S. government, and continue to monitor news and advisories for your destination through your departure date.

Accessibility. Tern & Meridian is not responsible for the suitability of any part of a trip for travelers with disabilities. Please share accessibility needs early so I can confirm what each Supplier can provide.

Support during your journey. Before you depart, you will receive your full itinerary, Supplier contact details, and local emergency numbers for each destination. I am available during business hours, 9am to 5pm Eastern, Monday through Friday, and I am not on call 24/7. For urgent issues while traveling, please contact the relevant Supplier, your travel insurance assistance line, or local emergency services directly.

Liability, Claims, and Governing Law

Limitation of liability. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Tern & Meridian's total liability for any claim related to our services is limited to the planning and service fees you paid directly to Tern & Meridian. Tern & Meridian is not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, including lost enjoyment, missed connections, or additional travel expenses caused by Suppliers or events outside our control.

Claims deadline. You agree to notify Tern & Meridian in writing of any claim within 30 days after your trip ends and to file any lawsuit within one year of the event giving rise to the claim.

Governing law and venue. These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Georgia, without regard to its conflict-of-law rules. You agree that any dispute between you and Tern & Meridian will be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Dawson County, Georgia, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of those courts.

Severability. If any part of these terms is found unenforceable, the remaining terms stay in full effect.

Acceptance and Contact

By paying the planning fee, submitting a deposit, or authorizing any booking, you confirm that you have read and agree to these terms on behalf of yourself and every traveler in your party. Tern & Meridian may update these terms from time to time, and the version in effect on the date of your booking applies to your trip.

Questions are always welcome. Reach me at piper@ternandmeridian.com and we will talk it through.

Last updated: September 22, 2026