Tour & Culinary Workshop Policies
We strive to deliver an enjoyable and safe experience for all our guests. As a participant in BTK tours or workshops, you play an important role in creating a positive and safe environment. In that spirit, we have developed the following tour and workshop policies. By booking or participating in a tour or culinary workshop with Baja Test Kitchen (BTK), you agree to abide by, adhere to, and respect the following policies, procedures, requirements, rules, warnings, disclaimers, agreements, terms, and conditions (you agree for yourself, your family members, and members of your group):
Use the hyperlinks below to view a particular section or scroll down to view all
IMPORTANT TOUR & WORKSHOP REQUIREMENTS
IMPORTANT REQUIREMENTS REGARDING CROSS-BORDER TRAVEL
Health & MOBILITY Requirements & Accessibility
FOOD ALLERGIES AND FOOD AVERSIONS
PARTICIPANT CONDUCT - Following Oral & Written Directions, RESPECT FOR OTHERS
DRESS REQUIREMENTS FOR TOURS AND CULINARY WORKSHOPS
WHAT TO BRING
PROHIBITED ITEMS - WHAT NOT TO BRING
MEETING POINTS/PICK-UP LOCATIONS
USE OF YOUR IMAGE
COMPLAINTS AND Dispute resolution
LOST & FOUND
IMPORTANT TOUR & WORKSHOP REQUIREMENTS
All tour and culinary workshop participants must agree to and sign the appropriate Baja Test Kitchen Participation Agreement (release of liability agreement) at least 1-day prior to participating in a tour or workshop. Every adult participant must complete, sign, and submit his/her own agreement (you may not complete/submit it on behalf of another participant). Failure to complete, sign, and submit a Participation Agreement (release of liability agreement) in advance of your tour or workshop date, for every member of your group, will constitute your reservation's cancellation without refund or credit. As our tours and workshops travel in/to a foreign country, we cannot allow for "surprise" tours or workshops -- all participants must have adequate time to prepare for their tour or workshop, to review the Participation Agreement's Terms and Conditions, and agree to those terms and conditions. We ask that Participation Agreements be submitted at least three (3) days in advance of your scheduled tour or workshop date - the sooner the better. We will not accept Participation Agreement submissions on the day of your tour or workshop - Participation Agreements must be submitted in advance of your tour/workshop date. We cannot accept modified agreements, nor will we make modifications to the Participant Agreement (release of liability agreement). To offer our service and to keep our and your costs low, it is imperative that all tour and culinary workshop participants agree to ALL of the terms, conditions, and provisions of our Participation Agreement - this is an absolute requirement for participation. If you or someone in your group cannot agree to a particular term or condition of participation, you should not book the tour/workshop with Baja Test Kitchen, and you should not participate in such tour/workshop.
By booking and/or paying for and/or participating in a tour or culinary workshop with Baja Test Kitchen, you agree to abide by the BTK Payment Terms & Conditions. You agree that failure to sign and submit the appropriate Participation Agreement (release of liability agreement) in advance of your tour/workshop date, and/or you or you or your group's failure follow these policies (the "BTK Tour & Workshop Policies") will result in immediate cancellation of your tour or workshop without refund or credit.
All communications about your tour or workshop reservation will be sent electronically, via email, and it is your sole responsibility to maintain your email account operational so that you may receive and reply to tour or workshop communications. You agree to advise BTK immediately about any change or update to the email address we have on file for your inquiry or reservation.
You must be at least 18-years old* to participate in Baja Test Kitchen tours and workshops. Proof of age may be requested by BTK staff before participation is allowed.
*Minors (those under the age of 18 years) may participate in select Baja Test Kitchen private tours or workshops with advanced written permission from Baja Test Kitchen. Participation by minors, when allowed, is subject to the following terms and conditions:
Children under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by and under the direct supervision of a parent or legal guardian at all times while on tour or in classes/workshop(s) and other BTK related activities. Participating minors under the age of 18 years may not consume alcohol in Mexico — no exceptions. All participating minors must posses and bring/carry a valid original passport document OR a valid original passport card document - no exceptions. The surname written on the minor's passport must exactly match the surname on the participating parent's passport, OR you must carry an original notarized court document showing clear parental rights in addition to the passports (if there is any doubt about what documents to bring/carry, contact your BTK tour liaison well in advance of your tour).
A participating legal parent/guardian will be required to sign the Participation Agreement for children under the age of 18 years. The participating parent/guardian must email BTK at least 3-days in advance of the tour with the participating minor’s full legal name (as it appears on their passport document), age, birth date, passport number, passport expiration date, food allergies & food aversions, known medical conditions, and known allergies to medications.
You must bring a child safety restraint seat or booster seat in good working order for all children under the age of eight (8) years and for any child under 4'9" tall. Children under eight (8) years must be seated in a rear seat of the tour vehicle in a properly installed car seat or booster seat (as appropriate for the child's height/weight/age) and children weighing under 40 pounds or less than 40-inches tall must ride in a rear-facing car seat. All car/booster seats must be compatible with the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) child safety restraint system. YOU MUST INSTALL YOUR OWN CAR/BOOSTER SEAT(S) (we recommend bringing the installation manual for your car/booster seat(s)) and you will be responsible for ensuring that your children are properly restrained at all times while in the tour vehicle - our guides are prohibited from assisting with the installation of a car/booster seat and our guides cannot assist with buckling/restraining your children in the tour vehicle. BTK DOES NOT PROVIDE CAR SEATS OR BOOSTER SEATS — YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN CHILD CAR/BOOSTER SEAT(S) AND YOUR CAR/BOOSTER SEAT(S) MUST BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. Failure to bring your own car and/or booster seats for minor participants who require them will result in cancellation of your tour without refund, credit, or rescheduling allowance. Your children will not be allowed to ride in our tour vehicle unless they are restrained in properly functioning car safety restraint seats as described above — no exceptions.
Required Identification for travel in Mexico: All participants must cary valid photo identification for travel in Mexico (i.e. a valid Passport, valid Passport Card or a valid Mexican Residency Card), and if necessary for travel to the United States or Mexico, a valid Visa (or Visa waiver), and/or a valid Residency Card (more info at http://www.dhs.gov/how-do-i/cross-us-borders). We strongly recommend that you also carry a second government-issued photo identification document (i.e. driver's license, state/government issued photo ID). If you are not an official resident or citizen of Mexico, we require that you carry your original passport document with you at all times while in Mexico (it may be requested by authorities at checkpoints, and per Mexican law, it's the only valid form of personal identification for tourists/visitors recognized by Mexican authorities). You should also keep a photocopy of your passport (and if required, your Visa) apart from you (i.e. in your car, in your luggage at your hotel, on your cruise ship, with a friend or family member at home). Your BTK tour guide, trip director, or workshop leader may ask you to show your photo identification (and Visa if required) before allowing participation in BTK trips or activities - failure to show that you have in your possession the valid travel documentation required by law, will result in the immediate cancellation of your reservation without refund, credit, or rescheduling. Please note that Mexico does NOT recognize SENTRI, Global Entry, or NEXUS cards as official identification while traveling in Mexico – these are U.S. programs and holders of these cards must ALSO bring their passports or passport cards to enter Mexico.
Cruise ship passengers must also carry the identification issued by their cruise line -- this identification is required for re-entry to the Port's secured facility.
All participants are solely responsible for the safekeeping of their own identification, travel documents, and other belongings. You should not leave your identification or travel documents unattended at any time, or stored in any unattended BTK vehicle. You acknowledge and agree that Baja Test Kitchen is not responsible for the safekeeping of your identification, travel documents, or other belongings. You are advised to never leave valuables unattended in a BTK vehicle, or unattended at any vendor location.
Important REQUIREMENTS Regarding Cross-Border Travel
If your tour or culinary workshop requires cross-border travel, in order to gain re-entry to the United States, U.S. citizens will be required to carry a valid U.S. Passport, U.S. Passport Card, SENTRI Card, or Global Entry Card. Non-U.S. citizens will be required to carry and produce proof of residency (i.e. a valid Resident Card, aka a “Green Card”) or a valid passport from your country of residence and Visa (or Visa waiver) allowing for multiple entries into the United States. For more information on re-entry requirements see http://www.dhs.gov/how-do-i/cross-us-borders. Mexican immigration authorities also require that all non-resident tourists carry a valid passport document, and if necessary for travel in Mexico, a valid Visa (or Visa waiver).
In addition to a valid passport, Mexican tourist permits, or FMMs (Forma Migratoria Multiple), are required for all non-Mexican citizens entering Baja California. If you are driving to Baja California and will be there for seven days or less, you may obtain this document for FREE at the Immigration office located at the border. A valid passport or passport card is required to obtain an FMM. For visits of eight (8) days or more, paid FMM tourist permits are required. As of September 2015, the “free zone” for FMMs (trips within the 20 kilometer border zone for less than 72 hours) is no longer valid and everyone entering Mexico should obtain an FMM. Our partner, Discover Baja Travel Club can provide more information on obtaining the appropriate FMM for your tour or workshop. When required by Mexican border authorities, we will stop at the Mexican immigration office at the border entry point to complete the application for a free FMM tourist card - a valid Passport document is required to obtain an FMM for tourist travel to Mexico. U.S. citizens with a valid passport are not required to hold a Visa for tourist travel to Mexico.
U.S. or Mexican authorities may request to see your identification at border inspection stations and checkpoints, and you and your family members should be able to produce the proper and valid travel documents and identification upon request. Should your identification or other travel documents come into question, you may be detained by U.S. or Mexican authorities. If you are detained by U.S. or Mexican authorities for any reason, you understand and agree that the other trip participants will proceed without you and you will be solely responsible for making all arrangements and paying all costs related to your transportation (and/or return home) from that point forward.
Health & MOBILITY Requirements & Accessibility
Tours and workshops require that all participants must be in good overall physical and mental health and have at least average mobility and strength. Participants should be able to walk unaided, for a minimum distance of one-quarter-mile (roughly 400-meters; one (1) lap around a standard track), and should be able to climb at least two flights of stairs without becoming winded or tired. Tours and workshops require participants to walk over uneven terrain (dirt and gravel paths), and up and down stairs. Tour and workshop participants should expect to enter and exit the tour vehicle unaided many times throughout the day. Accessing the rear seats of the tour vehicle requires average mobility and flexibility. We cannot guarantee which seat you will be assigned in the tour vehicle. If you have a medical or health condition that requires you to sit in front, you must notify BTK at least 3-days before your tour's departure date. We will do our best to accommodate special seating requests, however, actual seating assignments cannot be guaranteed. If you require the aid of a walker or cane, you must notify BTK at least 3-days before your tour's departure date.
Participants must disclose recent exposure (in the 30-days prior to participation/travel with BTK) to viruses or other pathogens that could cause other participants or BTK guides/staff to become infected, whether or not the participants who were exposed are showing or feeling symptoms of illness on the day(s) of participation. Participants may be required to complete and submit an additional health screening questionnaire prior to participation, to submit a copy of their most recent immunization records (certain immunizations, including the COVID-19 vaccination administered by an authorized medical provider, must be current prior to participation), and to have their temperature taken by BTK staff prior to participation. Participants without required immunizations and those participants displaying any physical signs of illness (including but not limited to runny nose, cough, sneezing, fever, chills, sweats, etc.) or with body temperatures outside of the normal range will not be allowed to participate. PARTICIPANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUPPLY AND WEAR SNUG FITTING FACE/MOUTH/NOSE COVERINGS AT ALL TIMES WHILE IN THE TOUR VEHICLE OR IN ANY ENCLOSED FACILITY TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF DISEASE - FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT OF PARTICIPATION WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE TRIP WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT REFUND, CREDIT, NOR RESCHEDULING ALLOWANCE. Participants are required to bring scent-free alcohol-based hand sanitizer and agree to use hand sanitizer before entering the tour vehicle at every stop.
Women who are pregnant or people with serious medical concerns, such as heart conditions, back injuries, or other serious illnesses, and/or are not able to meet the above requirements, will not be able to participate.
While in Mexico, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what they find in the United States. Mexican law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities in employment, education, air travel and other transportation, access to health care, and the provision of other services. However, the law is not effectively enforced in all areas of Mexico. Many public buildings and facilities continue to be in noncompliance with the law requiring access for persons with disabilities, as do most hotels and other tourist facilities. Baja Test Kitchen is not responsible for vendor facilities that are not in compliance with Mexico's accessibility requirements, codes, or laws, and furthermore does not warrant that facilities visited on tour or as part of a workshop will be in compliance with such requirements, codes, or laws.
Participants requiring special physical accommodations should contact BTK well in advance of their tour or workshop's start date to make arrangements for such accommodations.
Participants must be sober at the inception of the tour/workshop. If the trip director deems that a participant is under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs at the inception of the tour/workshop (in his/her sole yet reasonable judgement), that participant will be dismissed and will not be allowed to participate in the tour/workshop. There will be no refunds, credits, or rescheduling allowances for dismissal due to insobriety at the inception of a tour/workshop.
FOOD ALLERGIES AND FOOD AVERSIONS
Important Notification Requirement Regarding Food Allergies and Food Aversions: In most cases, your food will be pre-ordered and preparation may begin before we arrive to eat. If you have a particular food allergy (a food or ingredient that causes an allergic reaction) or food aversion (a food or ingredient you dislike), PLEASE INFORM BTK of such allergy/aversion in writing prior to your tour date (sooner the better)-- in such communication, please describe in detail which foods/ingredients you should avoid, the severity of any allergic reaction you may have to these foods/ingredients (including your sensitivity to trace amounts of the allergen), the medications you carry to treat such an allergic reaction, and any protocol for treatment that should be followed in case of an allergic reaction. Early on the day of your tour, you should also inform/remind your tour guide of your food allergies or aversions.
It is ultimately your sole responsibility to double-check with your food server, the ingredients of the foods/beverages you consume, before consuming (when in doubt, ask). All BTK food and beverage vendors utilize kitchen facilities that may process nuts (including peanuts and tree nuts), shellfish, fish, milk, eggs, wheat/gluten, soy, honey, and citrus. Accordingly, it is impossible to guarantee that trace amounts of these ingredients would not be found in ANY dish/food served.
We advise you to avoid any foods or ingredients that may cause an allergic reaction. You should carry any medication required/prescribed to treat an allergic reaction. Baja Test Kitchen cannot make guarantees as to the availability, quality, or effect of first aid, emergency medical response, medical treatment, or medical transport, nor to the level of training of those providing first aid, emergency medical transport, medical treatment, medical care, or similar services.
If you have indicated a food allergy or food aversion via your Participation Agreement submission or you have conveyed/disclosed an allergic reaction concern orally or in writing ahead of the tour/workshop (a written disclosure of allergies is required for participation), we may contact you in writing and require that you answer follow-up questions before your tour/workshop in order to further clarify certain aspects of your allergy, your sensitivity to the allergen(s) specified via your submission/disclosure, the type of medication you will be carrying to treat an allergic reaction, treatment protocols, etc. If at any time we feel (in our sole, yet reasonable judgement) that your personal safety, the well-being of others in your group, and/or the continuity of your tour/workshop could be compromised due to a potential reaction to an allergen (and we feel that you are not well prepared to treat an allergic reaction), we may require you to withdraw from the culinary activity in question, or from the tour/workshop altogether. We require timely and detailed answers to all questions regarding your health and safety.
PARTICIPANT CONDUCT - Following Oral & Written Directions, RESPECT FOR OTHERS
All participants must observe and obey all posted and orally conveyed rules, guidance, and warnings, and follow any oral instructions or directions given by BTK, its employees, representatives, volunteers, agents, contractors, vendors or associates. BTK reserves the right to require any participant to withdraw from a trip or workshop (at the participant's own expense) at any time if the trip director (BTK tour guide, workshop leader, or driver) deems that the participant's acts, conduct, or health and welfare to be detrimental to, or incompatible with, the interest, harmony, comfort, or welfare of the trip, BTK personnel, BTK vendor staff, or that of its other participants. In the case of withdrawal, whether required by BTK or voluntary, withdrawing participant(s) will be responsible for all of their own arrangements and costs of return travel home, and will be responsible to pay the full cost of their confirmed tour or workshop as quoted/invoiced before the trip commenced, regardless of any unfulfilled portion of the itinerary due to withdrawal - no refunds or credits will be issued in case of voluntary trip withdrawal, nor in the case of involuntary trip withdrawal due to participant misconduct.
As a participant in BTK tours or workshops, you play an important role in creating a positive and safe environment. By participating in BTK tours, workshops, or other BTK programs, you agree to:
be polite and show respect to other participants, BTK personnel, BTK vendor personnel, contractors, volunteers, vehicles, equipment, and facilities;
use only appropriate, kind, and positive language with others;
not engage in verbal or physical abuse of others, nor display or convey threatening behaviors;
exercise reasonable caution when engaging in activities in order to avoid causing bodily harm to self, other participants, and/or personnel/staff;
leave distracting, inappropriate, or prohibited items at home, including any weapons or items that may appear to look like, act like, or could be used as, weapons.
The consequence for not following any one, or multiple of, the above codes of conduct is immediate trip withdrawal (see above); such trip withdrawal to be determined by the trip director, in her/his sole, yet reasonable, discretion. No refunds or credits will be issued in the case of involuntary trip withdrawal due to participant misconduct, and the offending participant shall be responsible for all their own arrangements and costs of return travel home from the point of the trip withdrawal.
Participants must disclose recent exposure (in the 30-days prior to participation/travel with BTK) to viruses or other pathogens that could cause other participants or BTK guides/staff to become infected, whether or not the participants who were exposed are showing or feeling symptoms of illness on the day(s) of participation. Participants may be required to complete and submit an additional health screening questionnaire prior to participation, to submit a copy of their most recent immunization records (certain immunizations must be current prior to participation), and to have their temperature taken by BTK staff prior to participation. Participants without required immunizations and those participants displaying any physical signs of illness (including but not limited to runny nose, cough, sneezing, fever, chills, sweats, etc.) or with body temperatures outside of the normal range will not be allowed to participate. PARTICIPANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUPPLY AND WEAR SNUG FITTING FACE/MOUTH/NOSE COVERINGS WHILE IN THE TOUR VEHICLE OR IN ANY ENCLOSED FACILITY TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF DISEASE - FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT OF PARTICIPATION WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE TRIP WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT REFUND, CREDIT, NOR RESCHEDULING ALLOWANCE. Participants are required to bring scent-free alcohol-based hand sanitizer and agree to use hand sanitizer before entering the tour vehicle at every stop.
Dress Requirements for Tours and Culinary Workshops
All participants should wear comfortable closed-toed shoes. High-heel shoes are not advised. To access many vendor sites, you will be required to walk on unpaved (dirt or gravel) surfaces. Your itinerary may include tours of farms, dairy facilities, and/or commercial food, wine, or beer making facilities where closed-toed shoes are strongly recommended. Inappropriate footwear may preclude you from participating in some activities, and in such cases, there will be no refunds or credits issued for missed activities due to inappropriate footwear.
Generally speaking, there is not a strict dress code for most restaurants, wineries, and craft breweries in Baja California. However, Mexican culture and general decorum suggests that people entering such facilities should dress respectfully. Participants should dress with comfort and function in mind. Dressing in easily-removable layers is recommended. Daytime temperatures in Baja California regularly go above 85-degrees Fahrenheit, while nighttime temperatures may dip into the 50s or 40s. Participants are encouraged to check the weather forecast the day before their tour or workshop to ensure they are dressed appropriately for the conditions.
Culinary workshop participants (this requirement does not apply to normal tour participants) are required to wear rubber-soled closed-toed shoes, long pants, and avoid wearing overly loose or flowing garments. Shorts, skirts, dresses, and other garments that leave the legs or feet exposed are not allowed for culinary workshops. All garments should be made of natural fibers (no polyester, nylon, rayon, etc.). Inappropriate footwear or clothing may preclude you from participating in some activities, and in such cases, there will be no refunds or credits issued for missed activities due to inappropriate footwear or clothing.
PARTICIPANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUPPLY AND WEAR SNUG-FITTING FACE/MOUTH/NOSE COVERINGS WHILE IN THE TOUR VEHICLE OR IN ANY ENCLOSED FACILITY TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF DISEASE. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT OF PARTICIPATION WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE TRIP WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT REFUND, CREDIT, NOR RESCHEDULING ALLOWANCE.
What to Bring
You and members of your group/family should bring the following items: valid passport/passport card (and if necessary, a valid entry Visa or Resident Card - aka a "Green Card") and secondary form of photo identification, cruise ship identification (if applicable, issued by your cruise line & used to regain entry to the Port/ship), a snug-fitting face/nose/mouth covering, scent-free alcohol-based hand sanitizer, medications (if required to travel with medication, also bring your doctor's written prescription with your name on it), sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, sweater or light coat (check weather forecast), umbrella if forecast calls for rain, cash for purchases not covered by the tour fee.
All BTK vendors accept U.S. dollars, and many accept U.S. credit cards. Cash exchange rates will vary, and are set by each individual vendor. Beware that your bank/credit card may charge "foreign transaction fees". You should check with your bank/credit card before using your card abroad. When paying in U.S. dollars, change may be made in MXN Pesos at the vendor's posted exchange rate-- this is normal. Accordingly, we advise you to bring a variety of smaller bills ($1s, $5s, $10s) to reduce the need for change.
Prohibited Items - WHAT NOT TO BRING
BTK prohibits the carrying or transport of the following items in its tour vehicles: weapons, firearms, ammunition, knives (including pocket knives), non-prescription or illicit/illegal drugs, marijuana (including recreational and medical marijuana), drug paraphernalia, tobacco products including cigarettes or cigars, tobacco, chewing tobacco, or vaping pipes, fireworks, incendiary devices, and food, snacks, or beverages (with the exception of one (1) small bottle of water per person). Handbags and luggage are subject to search/inspection. For a more comprehensive list of prohibited items, visit http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/cbp-reqs-mexico.
We do not allow food or beverage (including but not limited to snacks, sodas, candy, fruit, seeds, nuts or gum) to be eaten or transported in our vehicles, with the sole exception of one (1) small bottle of drinking water per person. Because we are crossing an international border, we simply cannot risk having prohibited food items or beverages in our vehicles. U.S., California and Mexican laws prohibit the transport of certain foods, food products and beverages over the International border (both directions). Our vendors also prohibit the consumption of outside food or beverage on their property. Under no circumstance will you be allowed to consume alcohol in BTK vehicles. If you have a medical condition that requires you to consume specific foods or beverages, you should make special arrangements with us well in advance (at least 7 days) of your tour or workshop date.
Pets are not allowed in BTK vehicles, nor on BTK tours or culinary workshops. Unfortunately, Mexican laws regarding accessibility for service animals are not the same as in the U.S. Accordingly, some of our vendors do not allow service animals on their property and for your animal's safety, service animals may not be left unattended in BTK vehicles.
Smoking (including "vaping") and chewing tobacco are not permitted during tours or workshops, as we and many of our vendors are 100% smoke, vape, and tobacco free. You will not be permitted to transport tobacco or vaping products in our vehicles. You will not be permitted to smoke, vape, or chew tobacco in our vehicles, at rest stops, or on vendor property (even if it is allowed by the vendor). If you are not able to make it through an entire day without using tobacco or similar products, you should not book or take this tour or workshop (please don't ask for permission to smoke/vape/chew, or put us/you in the embarrassing position of having to request that you cease smoking/vaping/chewing while on tour or at a workshop, or request that you dispose of your tobacco or vaping products). Tobacco products and vaping products are regulated across the U.S./Mexican border, and as such, are not allowed in our tour vehicles (please don't bring them with you).
We advise against bringing large sums of cash, valuable jewelry or watches, designer handbags, expensive camera equipment, computers or tablets, and other item(s) of high monetary worth. BTK vehicles will be left unattended several times throughout your trip, and as such, we request that you not leave any items of value (including but not limited to your passport or other important travel documents) in an unattended vehicle. We suggest leaving all non-essential items from your purse or wallet at home-- bring just what you need for the tour or workshop. While theft is very rare in Mexico, Baja Test Kitchen is not responsible for your lost, stolen, or damaged items.
MEETING POINTS/PICK-UP LOCATIONS & DROP OFFS
Most tours and workshops meet on the U.S. side of the border and depart from one of our designated border meeting points in San Ysidro, California (the Tijuana crossing) or Tecate, California. Pick-ups at hotels and house rentals may be available in Baja California (north of central Ensenada) for those participants that have made prior arrangements. For public tours or workshops, pick-ups at the Tijuana airport are not available (for private tours, inquire about Tijuana airport pick-ups before booking).
For participants staying in a gated/secured community, your transportation will meet you at the front entry gate to the property. Please note, for public group tours, if you specify a pick-up location inside of a gated/secured community and we aren't able to gain easy access to the designated meeting point on the day of the tour/workshop, we'll be forced to continue on with the tour in order to preserve the experience for other paying participants (in this case, there are no refunds, credits, or rescheduling allowances). To avoid missing your tour/workshop, we strongly advise you to meet your transportation at the front entry gate to the property.
Drop-offs in the Valle de Guadalupe: when arrangements are made and confirmed in advance, in most cases we can drop you off in the Valle de Guadalupe after your tour. In such cases, luggage is limited to one (1) small overnight bag per person and all overnight bags should fit neatly under your seat in the tour van (for public tours we will not be able to accommodate roller-bags and suitcases; when our tour vehicles run full, there is no extra luggage hold available). For private tours, please advise your BTK booking agent well in advance of your luggage quantity and size. Be advised that poor road conditions (i.e. mud, standing water, road closures, etc.) may not allow us to take you all the way to your lodging destination - we will do our best to safely reach your destination, but we cannot risk getting stuck - and in such cases, you may have to arrange alternate transportation (not included with your BTK tour fees) from the tour's last stop in the Valle de Guadalupe to reach your lodging destination. Unless you have arranged for a private tour with return transportation, your tour will end once we have dropped you off, and from there you will be solely responsible for your return transport.
Street addresses in Baja California are notoriously unreliable. Accordingly, we base all of our pick-ups and drop-offs in Baja California on participant-provided GPS coordinates. When requesting a pick-up or drop-off location in Baja California, it is your sole responsibility to provide BTK with the following information: name of hotel or property (if applicable), name of street and house number, name of city or municipality, name of subdivision/neighborhood/residential area (in Spanish, "Colonia"), mailing (or ZIP) code, and exact GPS coordinates corresponding to the address provided. To find and/or verify GPS coordinates, you may find the tutorials found on this page helpful: https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Latitude-and-Longitude-from-Google-Maps. Baja Test Kitchen will not be responsible for issues related to your pick-up location that are out of our control, including, but not limited to receiving inaccurate coordinates/address/directions for the meeting point from your hotel, property manager, or landlord, your failure to appear at the designated meeting point on time for any reason, your delay or failure to appear on-time related to traffic, road conditions, or border crossing conditions, and/or refusal of entry of our tour vehicle into a gated community for your pick-up (you should plan to meet us at the front gate at the scheduled time - for personal security reasons, our guides will not leave their ID with security at the front gate of any community or hotel - if this is the requirement to enter, we will not pass the front gate and you should plan to meet your guide outside of the gate at the scheduled time).
For safety reasons, our drivers won't make phone calls or send texts while driving (and will not be able to answer your phone calls, texts, or emails), which is why we specify a pickup window and ask that your group be ready to depart the pre-arranged pickup/meeting point at the beginning of the pickup window.
Once your tour or workshop itinerary has been programmed (your itinerary has been communicated to you via a confirmation email), changes to your tour's designated meeting point, pick-up location, and/or drop-off location may only be considered when a request for change is received in writing (via email) at least 72-hours before the tour's/workshop's scheduled departure time, and if the requested change is possible (no guarantee), the requested itinerary change may incur extra charges that must be paid for in advance of your tour/workshop date (for security and logistical reasons, there will be no reprogramming within 72-hours of your scheduled start time - it's your responsibility to arrive at the scheduled meeting or pick-up location on time).
Failure to arrive on time (at the scheduled start/meeting time) at the designated pick-up/meeting location (at the address and GPS coordinates you have provided and self-verified) will result in cancellation of your tour due to your failure to appear as scheduled, without refund, credit, or rescheduling allowance. Plan to arrive EARLY at your scheduled pick-up/meeting point. If you are unsure about how to locate your scheduled meeting point, contact your BTK representative well in advance of the scheduled start/meeting/departure time to clarify the meeting point. Out of respect for other tour and workshop participants, and for security reasons, BTK staff will not wait past the scheduled meeting time printed in your itinerary to begin or continue a public tour or workshop. Rescheduling will not be allowed for tours or workshops cancelled by your failure to appear, and there will be no credits or refunds. For your security and ours, our guides will only meet you and drop you off at the pre-arranged meeting point in your itinerary - last minute changes to the itinerary are not possible.
use of your image
You understand that you may be photographed and/or recorded while participating in BTK activities.
BTK reserves the right to use any images, photographs, videos or recordings taken during your tour or workshop for future promotional purposes or for safety and security related purposes.
By participating in BTK activities, you waive any right to inspect or approve the use of the images or recordings or of any written copy. You also waive any right to royalties or other compensation arising from or related to the use of the images, recordings or materials.
COMPLAINTS AND Dispute resolution
Our goal is your satisfaction. If there is anything we can do to make your booking, tour, or workshop experience more enjoyable (within reason of course), please don't hesitate to ask your booking advisor, tour guide, workshop leader, or driver. We'll do whatever we can reasonably do to ensure that you experience a smooth booking experience, and have a great time participating in BTK tour/workshop activities.
Please direct any complaints or compliments to BTK management using this contact form.
In the spirit of acting in good faith to resolve any/all issues you have, or may come to have, with Baja Test Kitchen, you agree to surface any dispute or displeasure you have with/about BTK, its employees, representatives, volunteers, agents, contractors, vendors or associates, in writing with BTK management directly and privately, and before taking any action which is intended, or would reasonably be expected, to harm BTK or BTK’s reputation, or which would reasonably be expected to lead to unwanted or unfavorable publicity for Baja Test Kitchen. By booking and/or paying for and/or participating in a tour or culinary workshop with Baja Test Kitchen, or by participating in BTK activities, you agree to act in good faith to resolve any dispute or displeasure you have before making disparaging or negative remarks in a public forum (online or otherwise) about Baja Test Kitchen, its employees, representatives, volunteers, agents, contractors, vendors or associates, and further agree not to make any public statements that are false, untrue, do not represent the whole truth regarding the matter, or are purposefully misleading.
If a dispute arises under this Agreement or between the parties, you agree to first try to resolve the dispute in good faith with the help of a mutually agreed-upon and certified mediator in San Diego County, California. Any costs and fees other than attorney fees associated with the mediation shall be shared equally by the parties. If it proves impossible to arrive at a mutually satisfactory solution through mediation, the parties agree to submit any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this agreement, or the breach thereof, to be settled by arbitration administered in San Diego County, California by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules, and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.
LOST & FOUND
You are solely responsible for the safekeeping of your personal items while participating in Baja Test Kitchen tours, workshops, trips, or activities. Once your tour or workshop has left the vendor site, we will not return to recover left or lost items (no exceptions), and you should contact that vendor directly to make arrangements for the recovery and return of your item(s). We advise you to purchase third-party insurance to cover any costs related to lost, stolen, or damaged items.
We advise against bringing large sums of cash, valuable jewelry or watches, designer handbags, expensive camera equipment, computers or tablets, and other item(s) of high monetary worth. BTK vehicles will be left unattended several times throughout your trip, and as such, we request that you not leave any items of value (including but not limited to your passport or other important travel documents) in an unattended vehicle. We suggest leaving all non-essential items from your purse or wallet at home, and bring just what you need for the tour or workshop. Baja Test Kitchen is not responsible for your lost, stolen, or damaged items.
As circumstances allow and only as a courtesy service, reasonable efforts will be made to assist in the recovery of your lost item(s), however, Baja Test Kitchen cannot guarantee the return of any lost item and will not be responsible for any costs related to the storage, return, replacement, or repair of your lost item(s).
If you believe you may have left an item in your tour vehicle, please email tours@bajatestkitchen.com to confirm whether the item was found, and provide the following information about the item(s):
A detailed description of the lost article (color, brand, fabric, etc.)
Your tour or workshop itinerary (i.e. wine tour, or craft beer tour)
Your tour or workshop date and the approximate time the item was lost (if known)
A description of where you were seated in the tour vehicle
Lost items found in BTK tour vehicles will be available for pick-up at our office 72-hours AFTER the end of your tour or workshop, and may be claimed during regular office hours for TEN (10) DAYS from the date of your tour or workshop. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PICKING-UP YOUR LOST AND FOUND ITEM(S) AT OUR OFFICE DURING OUR NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS.
If you do not claim your lost and found item(s) within TEN (10) days of your tour or workshop, it/they will be disposed of or donated to a local charity (no exceptions); you will not be notified of such disposal or donation, and there will be no receipt or acknowledgment provided as to the disposition of your lost and found items that were left unclaimed.
In some case, according to our availability, and at our sole discretion, we may be able to ship your lost item(s). If you would like us to ship your lost item(s), you will need to pre-pay $75.00 USD for packaging and handling, AND email us with a pre-paid UPS or FedEx shipping label according to the estimated weight of your item (we strongly recommend purchasing shipping insurance from the carrier for the item(s) being shipped). We will not be responsible for any damage, breakage, or loss related to the storage, handling, packaging, or shipping your lost and found item(s).
If you believe that your item(s) may have been left or lost at a vendor site, please contact that vendor directly to inquire about your lost item (our tour and workshop confirmations contain links to our vendor websites with their contact info). Once your tour or workshop has left the vendor site, we will not return to recover left or lost items (no exceptions), and you should contact that vendor directly to make arrangements for the return of your item(s).