The company:
“RHINE VALLEY SIGHTSEEING TOURS”
Hereinafter referred to as “the company”, provides semi-private excursions (“group tours”) of one or more days, and private excursions (“private tours”) of one or more days in France and abroad. These excursions are provided under the trade name “Tour.alsace”.
These terms and conditions apply to each programme of visits provided by the company, hereinafter referred to as a “tour”. In these terms and conditions, the undersigned is hereinafter referred to as the “customer”. It is the responsibility of each customer to read and understand the terms and conditions of the operator. The completion and submission of the online booking form, together with the customer’s payment for the tour, constitute acceptance of and agreement to the terms and conditions of the company. The company reserves the right to modify its terms and conditions without prior notice.
Bookings:
Bookings are accepted by the company upon receipt of a booking form completed on our website or upon receipt of a booking request on paper or by e-mail for a private tour, accompanied by the payment for the entire service. All our tours must be paid for before the date of the tour. Bookings are confirmed only once payment has been received by the company.
Tickets must be pre-printed before the tour or clearly displayed on electronic devices and presented to the driver with proof of identity. The ticket is valid only at the time and on the date shown on it.
Cancellation by the customer and refund policies:
The company scrupulously upholds its cancellation policy and will make no exception to the policy. If the customer decides to cancel the booking, the company must receive written notice of this cancellation by post or e-mail sent to info@tour.alsace (with acknowledgment of receipt by the company), and the customer will be subject to the following cancellation fee schedule:
For group tours:
- 4 days or more before the date of the tour: full refund.
- 3 days or less before the date of the tour: no refund.
For private tours:
- 15 days or more before the date of the tour: full refund.
- 14 days or less before the date of the tour: no refund.
No cancellation or assistance insurance is included in the prices shown for all tours. Every customer must check that he has the appropriate documents for his journey: a passport (with a visa if necessary) or a valid identity card. No refund will be given if identity documents are missing or lost.
It is strictly forbidden to eat, drink or smoke aboard the coaches. All passengers are insured during excursions in the coaches. The company’s liability is limited to our insurance contract clauses.
All group tours leave on time. Customers must be at the allocated meeting point at least 10 minutes before the start of the tour. The driver will not wait unless the company has been warned that the customer is late, with a maximum waiting time of 10 minutes. After this time, the tours will depart and the company will not be held responsible for customers missing their tour.
Cancellation by the company:
The company reserves the right to cancel any tour at any time prior to departure for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation if the company considers that the number of customers registered for a given tour is insufficient for it to go ahead. The company may, at its sole discretion, substitute a service or item of similar quality for any service or item indicated in a tour itinerary, without prior notice. The company must attempt to inform the customer of the cancellation of any tour for which the customer has paid, as soon as possible after the final decision to cancel the said tour.
If a tour is cancelled, the liability of the company is limited to a full refund of the deposits and tour fees paid by the customer concerned, and the company will not be liable for any other costs, damages or refunds of any kind whatsoever due to any loss, delay, inconvenience, disappointment, or expense whatsoever in such circumstances.
The company is not liable for any losses incurred as a result of non-refundable or non-transferable airline tickets. The itineraries of the proposed tours are subject to change. Due to circumstances beyond its control, the company may make partial changes to the itinerary shown. All efforts are made to keep changes to a minimum and ensure quality of service.
If the customer encounters a problem during the tour, he is responsible for immediately reporting the problem to the company’s staff so that they can correct the problem. Tours not completed in their entirety may under no circumstances be deemed to be grounds for a complaint or refund. If for reasons beyond the company’s control, a tour in progress has to be interrupted or cancelled, the company must refund in good faith a portion of the tour fee based on the actual costs incurred in relation to the tour initially planned.
Price:
Prices are subject to change without prior notice. Once the company receives the booking request and payment for the service requested by the customer, the price of the tour is guaranteed and the price of the tour cannot be increased.
Payments are made by credit card or bank transfer. The company’s promotions are valid per person or per vehicle only during the promotional dates indicated. They apply to a tour and are subject to change without prior notice.
Liability:
The liability of the company is expressly limited to conducting a sightseeing tour with land transport from one site to the other and supplying admission tickets if applicable.
The company excludes all other guarantees, including but not limited to the guarantee of good performance by the company and its agents. In addition, the company and its agents cannot be held liable for any direct or indirect damages or injuries that may result from a tour. The customer is fully responsible for all his actions and agrees to hold the company and its staff harmless in the event of an accident, damage or injury. The company and its staff are not responsible for acts of God or acts of war/terrorism, and the customer undertakes to hold the company and its staff harmless in the event of an incident or injury resulting therefrom, or in the event of force majeure. Only the company can finalise a tour booking request and turn it into a binding contract for the provision of the service between the company and the customer.
The responsibilities of the customer include, but are not limited to, compliance with all local laws, respect for local customs, culture, guides and professionals, respect for the privacy of other customers and following suggestions and advice from the company and its staff during a tour.
The company reserves the right to refuse, accept or restrain at any time any customer, as a participant in a tour, if it deems that the customer’s behaviour disrupts the group, or is inappropriate or offensive to the group. The same is the case if the customer’s behaviour interferes with the provision of the tour by the company.
The company reserves the right to remove any customer from a tour if it decides that the customer cannot meet the physical requirements of the tour as indicated in the tour programme, disrupts the tour schedule or harms the overall dynamics of the group. In the event that a customer is removed from a tour, the company will not refund him any sum of money. Transport costs to return home, airline penalties and other expenses will be borne by the customer.
In the event that a customer voluntarily chooses to leave a tour, the company will require a written and signed statement of his intention to leave the tour. In the event that a customer voluntarily leaves a tour, the company will not refund any sum to the customer. Transport costs to return home, airline penalties and other expenses will be borne by the customer. During a tour, the customer participates in as many of the activities offered to him as he wishes. No refunds will be given to the customer for unused services, activities, excursions, workshops or portions of a tour for any reason.
Children:
Babies aged 0 to 4 years are not allowed on our tours, with the exception of private tours. Minors (under 18 years old in France) must be accompanied by an adult.
Adults travelling with children over 4 years of age have an obligation to inform the company of the child’s age and weight so that we can provide an adequate booster seat. Without this information, the company will not allow the child to participate in the tour and no refund will be possible for the child and its accompanying adult(s).
Health:
By making his booking, the customer certifies that he has no physical condition or handicap that would create a danger to himself or other passengers, certifies that he is physically able to participate in the tour and certifies that he is aware of all information about the steps and rest breaks included in the tour.
Insurance:
Travel cancellation insurance is highly recommended but is not required for participation in a tour. Travel cancellation insurance will protect the customer if he has to cancel his participation in the tour for reasons such as sickness, unemployment, death, etc. The insurance company will refund him for his participation in the tour according to the conditions agreed between them. The customer is free to choose the insurance that suits him. The company does not provide this type of insurance.
Additional insurance for baggage, health/accidents is also highly recommended and available from most major travel insurance providers. The company is not responsible for any additional expenses that may arise from the fact that the customer has not purchased travel insurance.
Use of customers’ image and feedback:
The photographs taken and videos made by the company or persons appointed by the company during a tour are the property of the company and may be used for promotional purposes.
Verbal and/or written comments provided by customers to the company on a tour also belong to the company and may be used in promotional materials, including on the company’s website.
Acceptance of terms and conditions:
The customer’s booking request will constitute acceptance by the customer of these terms and conditions. The customer understands that this is a legally binding and enforceable contract.
Alcohol and miscellaneous:
The company reserves the right (and delegates to its drivers the right) to refuse to carry any person suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs and/or whose behaviour is considered a threat to the driver, vehicle or other passengers. Customers who soil the interior of a coach are liable for an on-the-spot fine of €50. This fine is payable immediately to the company driver. If the customer refuses to pay or has no money with which to pay, €50 will be deducted from his credit card.
Parents or accompanying adults (or friends over 18 years of age) of children and adolescents under 18 years of age are responsible for the conduct of these minors when they are aboard the vehicles and will be held responsible for any damage caused by the aforesaid minors. The legal age of alcohol consumption in France is 18 years and therefore, parents or accompanying adults will be responsible for minors during wine tours with regard to the consumption of alcohol. Any damage caused to a company vehicle by a customer must be paid for immediately. If payment cannot or will not be made, the company will be obliged to prosecute the customer(s) in question. Passengers are not allowed to consume alcoholic beverages in our vehicles. Smoking is forbidden in the company’s vehicles.
