1. Agreement
TripJoiner is operated by Hikepilot LLC. By creating an account or using TripJoiner, you agree to these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the service.
2. The TripJoiner service
TripJoiner provides marketplace software for discovering tours, submitting requests to join, organizing listings, messaging, booking workflows, documents, reviews, and support. TripJoiner is not a tour operator for trips listed by third-party organizers unless we expressly say otherwise for a specific offering.
3. Eligibility and minors
You must be at least 18 years old and able to enter a binding contract to hold a TripJoiner account. An adult traveler may include minors as trip participants and is responsible for their participation, permissions, documents, and information. Organizers remain responsible for applying their lawful age, guardian, and safety rules to each trip.
4. Direct payment — money does not flow through TripJoiner
- TripJoiner does not collect, hold, transmit, escrow, refund, guarantee, or pay out traveler tour money.
- Traveler-to-organizer payment happens directly outside TripJoiner, using whatever method the parties arrange.
- Payment-status records in TripJoiner are user claims and workflow records only — not proof that funds moved through the platform.
- TripJoiner cannot reverse, recover, or refund direct payments made between travelers and organizers.
- When Stripe (or another payment provider) is connected later, it is only for organizer memberships and promotions — never for traveler tour payments.
See the full Direct-payment disclosure.
5. Organizer vs platform responsibility
- Organizers are responsible for trip delivery, pricing, cancellation policies they publish, and any direct-payment arrangements with travelers.
- TripJoiner is responsible for operating the marketplace software, account access, messaging and booking workflows, and enforcing platform policies.
6. Accounts and acceptable use
You must provide accurate information, keep credentials secure, and comply with applicable law. We may suspend or disable accounts for fraud, abuse, policy violations, or safety concerns. You may not scrape, interfere with, or misuse the platform.
You may not impersonate another person; submit false booking, payment, review, or safety claims; upload unlawful or malicious material; harass others; evade a suspension; or use TripJoiner to violate another person’s privacy or intellectual-property rights.
7. Organizer obligations
Organizers must accurately describe trips, prices, inclusions, availability, risks, requirements, cancellation terms, and direct payment instructions. They must have authority to offer each trip and comply with applicable licensing, insurance, tax, consumer-protection, accessibility, and safety obligations. Verification or moderation by TripJoiner is not a guarantee of an organizer or trip.
8. Bookings, cancellations, and disputes
Booking statuses and payment milestones are records of claims and workflow steps between the parties. Disputes and support cases focus on communication, evidence, policy enforcement, and account action — not on reversing off-platform payments. TripJoiner does not guarantee trip outcomes and does not act as an escrow agent for traveler tour money.
The organizer’s disclosed cancellation and refund terms govern direct trip-payment arrangements, subject to applicable law. TripJoiner may preserve records, facilitate communication, and enforce platform rules, but cannot compel or process an off-platform refund.
9. User content and reviews
You keep ownership of content you submit. You give Hikepilot LLC a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, reproduce, display, format, and distribute that content only as reasonably needed to operate, secure, and improve TripJoiner. Public listing, profile, and review content may also be displayed to promote TripJoiner and the relevant organizer or trip. Private messages and booking documents are not licensed for advertising. You represent that you have the rights and permissions needed to submit content. We may remove, restrict, or preserve content to enforce these terms, protect users, comply with law, or investigate a report. Reviews must reflect genuine experiences and may be moderated under platform policy.
10. Memberships and promotions
Organizer memberships and promotions may be billed separately when a payment provider is connected. Those charges are distinct from traveler-to-organizer tour payments, which remain direct and off-platform.
11. Travel and third-party risks
Travel involves risks that vary by destination and activity. Travelers are responsible for evaluating suitability, visas, health and safety guidance, insurance, and organizer terms. Links, maps, location search, payment methods, and organizer services may be supplied by third parties under their own terms. TripJoiner does not control those services.
12. Disclaimers and limitation
The service is provided “as is” to the fullest extent permitted by law. TripJoiner is not liable for off-platform payment failures, organizer performance, or losses arising from arrangements made directly between travelers and organizers. Nothing in these draft terms limits non-waivable consumer rights.
13. Suspension and termination
You may stop using the service and may request account deletion through Support. We may restrict or terminate access for violations, fraud, safety risk, legal requirements, or material harm to users or the service. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination, including payment responsibility, ownership, disclaimers, and limits of liability, continue to apply.
14. Changes to these terms
We may update these terms as the service or law changes. We will post the revised terms with a new effective date and provide additional notice when required or when a material change warrants it. Continuing to use TripJoiner after the effective date means you accept the revised terms, except where applicable law requires another form of consent.
15. Governing law and disputes
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict-of-law rules, except where the law where you live requires otherwise. Before filing a claim, you and Hikepilot LLC agree to try in good faith for 30 days to resolve it through Support. Unless applicable law permits or requires another forum, claims may be brought in the state or federal courts located in Kings County, New York. This section does not prevent either party from using an eligible small claims court or seeking urgent injunctive relief.
16. Support and contact
Questions about these terms or account issues can be raised via Support, or by mail to Hikepilot LLC, 1625 East 7th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11230, United States.