Terms and conditions:
General travel and contract terms and conditions.

Your registration is binding on you. The travel contract between you and us comes into effect upon the unconditional acceptance of your written, telephone, electronic or personal registration. If the person registering makes a reservation for further travel participants, they are liable for those participants' contractual obligations (in particular payment of the tour price) as for their own obligations. Travel arrangements of other tour operators and of airlines that the tour operator merely arranges for you are subject to those companies' own contractual and travel conditions.

Our services are set out in the description of services in the brochure or the trip description. Special requests form part of the contract only if they have been confirmed in writing and without reservation by the booking office. Unless otherwise stated in the trip description, services begin at the place of departure for river cruises, rail and coach tours, and at the airport in Switzerland for air travel and boutique trips.

Your payment: Upon receipt of the travel confirmation, a deposit per person becomes due for immediate payment. The balance must reach your booking office no later than 30 days before the start of the trip. For short-notice bookings, the full amount is payable at the time of booking. If the deposit or the balance is not paid on time, we are entitled to withdraw from the contract without compensation and to claim the cancellation costs in accordance with clause 2.2.

Reka-Checks / credit cards: A maximum of 50 % of the arrangement, but no more than CHF 500.– per person and trip, may be paid with Reka-Checks (excluding day trips and special-offer trips). Admission tickets to musicals and operas do not count towards the basic price of the arrangement. For payment by credit card, a surcharge of 1 % of the invoice amount, but at least CHF 20.–, is charged.

Unless otherwise stated, our prices are per person in Swiss francs, with accommodation in a double room, including applicable value added tax and the current airport and security taxes. For price changes, see clause 7.

Booking fee: In addition to our arrangement prices, your booking office may charge a booking fee for advice and sales. For VIP Travel-Club members, the booking fee is waived for direct bookings. Club information is available on request.

Changes to the booking: For a change of name, the naming of a substitute traveller, or changes to the travel dates within the period of validity of the travel programme, to booked ancillary services, to the destination or to the boarding point up to 31 days before the departure date, we charge a handling fee of CHF 100.– per person. After this deadline, the cancellation conditions of clause 2.2 apply. For trips including flights, the provisions of the respective airline apply.

Cancellations: If you cancel your trip before the start of the trip, we charge a handling fee of CHF 100.– per person. Handling fees are not covered by any cancellation costs insurance. Any booking fees or insurance premiums are non-refundable. Depending on the date of your withdrawal or your change in accordance with clause 2.1 or 2.2, we must charge the following cancellation costs, as a percentage of the invoice total, in addition to the handling fee.

Cancellation costs for one-day coach trips: One-day coach trips cannot be cancelled; in the event of no-show, the tour price paid will not be refunded. Changes of name are possible free of charge. Rebookings to another date are subject to a handling fee of CHF 20.– per file.

Cancellation costs rustexpress.ch

• a) Individuals and groups: up to 7 days before departure 0 %, 6 to 4 days before departure 50 %, 3 to 0 days before departure or no-show 100 %.
• b) Partial cancellation of group bookings of 20 or more persons: up to 2 days before departure 0 %, 1 to 0 days before departure 80 %.
• c) Change of date for individual travellers and groups: up to 7 days before departure 0 %, from 7 days before departure CHF 20.– per file.
• d) Hotel bookings at Europa-Park: up to 15 days before departure 0 %, 14 to 8 days before departure 80 %, 7 to 0 days before departure and no-show 100 %.

Cancellation costs for all other coach trips

• up to 61 days before departure 0 %
• 60 to 31 days before departure 10 %
• 30 to 22 days before departure 30 %
• 21 to 15 days before departure 50 %
• 14 to 8 days before departure 80 %
• 7 to 0 days before departure and no-show 100 %

Cancellation costs for air travel and for coach trips combined with ocean cruises

• up to 121 days before departure 10 % of the tour price
• 120 to 90 days before departure 20 % of the tour price
• 89 to 60 days before departure 35 % of the tour price
• 59 to 30 days before departure 50 % of the tour price
• 29 to 15 days before departure 80 % of the tour price
• 14 to 0 days before departure or no-show 100 % of the tour price
• For flights, the cancellation conditions of the respective airline and fare class apply in accordance with clause 6.

For hotel-only offers, ocean cruises and Rivage boutique trips, the cancellation conditions published in each case apply. For transport-only and last-minute trips, the cancellation costs amount to 100 % from the time of booking. If the cancellation costs of our partners exceed the costs under 2.2.1 to 2.2.4, the partners' cancellation costs will be passed on to you.

The date on which your written notification reaches us or the booking office is decisive for calculating the deadlines; if it arrives at a weekend or on a public holiday, the next working day is decisive.

Substitute person: If you have to cancel the trip, you may provide a substitute traveller who takes the trip under the same conditions. If this substitute traveller enters into the contract, you and the substitute are jointly and severally liable for payment of the entire tour price, the handling fee and any additional costs. The substitution of a person is permitted:

• a) for trips within Switzerland, up to the start of the trip;
• b) for trips within Europe and to countries without a visa requirement (excluding air travel), up to 48 hours before the agreed departure;
• c) for overseas trips, ocean cruises, air travel and trips to countries with a visa requirement, by arrangement with your travel agency and subject to our organisational possibilities (varying time required to obtain visas). It is also a condition that the companies involved in the trip (hotels, airlines or shipping companies) accept these changes as well, which may be difficult particularly in the high season or may fail because of air fare regulations.

Event tickets

• 2.5.1. Tickets for events, even if booked as part of a package arrangement, can no longer be cancelled and are charged in full in the event of rebookings and cancellations, regardless of the time.
• 2.5.2. If EUROBUS is able to resell event tickets, only the handling fee is charged. Settlement takes place after the trip has been carried out.
• 2.5.3. The cancellation costs insurance covers the cost of admission tickets as soon as the booking has been confirmed by us.

Changes before conclusion of the contract: We expressly reserve the right to change brochure details, descriptions of services and prices in the brochures and on the price lists before your booking. Should this be the case, your booking office will inform you of the changes before conclusion of the contract.

Price changes after conclusion of the contract: In exceptional cases, it may be necessary to increase the agreed price. Price increases may result from the following reasons:

• a) a subsequent increase in transport costs (including fuel surcharges);
• b) newly introduced or increased government charges or fees (e.g. airport taxes, landing fees, embarkation and disembarkation fees, etc.);
• c) changes in exchange rates;
• d) price increases ordered by the state (e.g. value added tax).
• If the costs of these travel services increase, they may be passed on to you. We will make the price increase no later than 22 days before the start of the trip. If the price increase exceeds 10 %, you are entitled to the rights set out in clause 7.4.

Changes to the programme, changes after your booking and before the start of the trip: We reserve the right, also in your interest, to change the travel programme or individual agreed services (such as accommodation, mode of transport, means of transport, airlines, flight times, etc.) if this is required by force majeure or by an event that could not be foreseen or averted despite all due care, such as natural disasters, unrest, strikes, government measures, epidemics, etc. We will endeavour to offer you equivalent substitute services. We will inform you of such changes and their effect on the price as quickly as possible.

Your rights if, after conclusion of the contract, the tour price is increased or changes are made to the programme or to transport: If the change to the programme or to individual agreed services results in a significant change to an essential point of the contract, or if the price increase exceeds 10 per cent, you have the following rights:

• a) you may accept the change to the contract;
• b) you may withdraw from the contract in writing within 5 days of receiving our notification, and the tour price already paid will be refunded to you without delay;
• c) or you may notify us in writing within 5 days of receiving our notification that you wish to take part in an equivalent substitute trip proposed by us. If you do not send us a notification under letter b) or c), you agree to the price increase, the change to the programme or the change to individual agreed services (the 5-day deadline is met if you hand your notification to the Swiss Post on the 5th day).

Guaranteed departures: If the number of participants is below 10 persons, we reserve the right to cancel the trip for ecological and economic reasons. The deadlines in clause 8.2 apply.

Other departures: A fixed minimum number of participants applies to our other trips. If this number of participants is not reached, we reserve the right to cancel the trip no later than 22 days (for trips of more than 4 days) or 14 days (for trips of up to 4 days) before the start of the trip. For day trips, the deadline is reduced to 1 day.

Compelling reasons: Should compelling reasons such as force majeure, natural disasters, unrest, strikes, government measures, epidemics, pandemics, etc. significantly impede or prevent the safe execution of the trip, we may cancel the trip or parts of it or terminate it early. In such a case, we will inform you as quickly as possible.

Chartering: In some cases, our group trips are based on the full charter of means of transport (aircraft, ship). We reserve the right to cancel the trip no later than 90 days before the start of the trip if such a means of transport is chartered elsewhere.

Substitute trip: We will endeavour to offer you an equivalent substitute trip. If you do not take part in it, the amounts paid will be refunded to you, less the expenses under clause 8.6 in the event of a cancellation for compelling reasons. Any further claims on your part are excluded.

If the trip or parts of it are cancelled for compelling reasons, we may invoice you for the expenses demonstrably incurred, in particular non-refunded services of our partners.

Termination of the trip by the traveller: If you terminate the trip, the tour price cannot be refunded to you; any additional costs (e.g. return transport) are at your expense. If you have to terminate the trip for compelling reasons (illness, accident, etc.), our driver / tour guide will help you organise your return journey. Only in the event of termination of the trip for compelling reasons will we refund those services that are not charged to us (less a reasonable handling fee).

Termination of the trip by the operator: If we have to terminate the trip, in particular for compelling reasons in accordance with clause 8.3, any additional costs are at your expense, with those services that are not charged to us being deducted from the additional costs.

Complaints: If the trip does not correspond to the contractual agreement or if you suffer damage, you are obliged to complain about this defect or damage immediately to our driver / tour guide.

Remedy: The driver / tour guide will endeavour to provide a remedy within a reasonable period during the trip. If no remedy is provided, if a remedy is not possible or if it is insufficient, have the defects or damage complained of and the failure to remedy them confirmed in writing by the driver / tour guide. The driver / tour guide is not, however, authorised to acknowledge any claims for damages or the like. If you fail to make the complaint and obtain the written confirmation, we will no longer be able to deal with your complaints, etc. after the end of the trip and you will lose all claims.

Asserting a claim: If you wish to assert defects, refunds or claims for damages against us, you must submit your complaint to us in writing within 30 days of the actual end of the agreed trip. If you do not assert your claims within 30 days of the actual end of the agreed trip, all claims are forfeited.

General: We will compensate you for the objective value of agreed services that were not provided or were provided poorly, or for damage suffered, insofar as it was not possible for the driver / tour guide to provide an equivalent substitute service on the spot. This is subject to fault on our part or on the part of our contractual service provider. The following clauses are reserved.

International conventions and national laws: Where international conventions and national laws contain limitations or exclusions of compensation for damage arising from non-performance or improper performance of the contract, we are liable only within the scope of these conventions and laws. International conventions and national laws with limitations or exclusions of liability exist in particular in the transport sector, such as in air transport, shipping and rail transport.

Exclusions of liability: We are not liable to you if the non-performance or improper performance of the contract is attributable to the following causes:

• a) omissions on your part before or during the trip;
• b) unforeseeable or unavoidable omissions of a third party who is not involved in the provision of the contractually agreed service;
• c) force majeure, natural disasters, unrest, strikes, government measures, epidemics, pandemics or an event that we, the intermediary or the service provider could not foresee or avert despite due care.
• In these cases, any liability on our part to pay damages is excluded.

Personal injury, accidents, etc.: For personal injury, death, bodily harm, etc. resulting from non-performance or improper performance of the contract, we are liable only if we or a service provider caused the damage intentionally or through gross negligence. The limitations and exclusions of liability in international conventions and national laws (clause 12.2.1) are reserved. Car parks and parking garages are used at your own risk.

Property damage and financial loss, etc.: For property damage and financial loss arising from non-performance or improper performance of the contract, we are liable only if we or a service provider caused the damage intentionally or through gross negligence. This liability is limited to a maximum of twice the tour price; lower liability limits or exclusions of liability in international conventions and national laws (clause 12.2.1) are reserved. Car parks and parking garages are used at your own risk.

Valuables, cash, jewellery, credit cards, etc.: We expressly draw your attention to the fact that you are yourself responsible for the safe keeping of valuables, cash, jewellery, credit cards, photographic and video equipment, etc. Under no circumstances may you leave these items in the unattended coach or unattended anywhere else. We are not liable in the event of theft, loss, damage or misuse.

Coach, train, flight and ship timetables, etc.: Even with careful travel organisation, we cannot guarantee adherence to these timetables. Delays may occur, in particular as a result of heavy traffic, congestion, accidents, airspace congestion, diversions, delayed border clearance, etc. We are not liable in any of these cases. We strongly advise you to allow for possible delays when planning your journey.

Liability for third-party services: Outside the agreed travel programme, local events or excursions may in some cases be booked during the trip. It cannot be ruled out that such events and excursions involve risks. These events and excursions are not offered by us, and it is your own responsibility whether you wish to take part in them. We are not liable for proper performance of the contract. We point out that the safety standards of EUROBUS may not be observed by third-party providers. EUROBUS gives no guarantee for the services of third parties, and the customer alone is responsible for checking the provider, its staff and the equipment.

Safety on cycling and hiking tours: You practise your sport at your own risk. Good health is a prerequisite for participation. Should a participant not meet this requirement, the tour management is authorised to refuse participation in the hikes or cycling tours. The tour price paid will not be refunded. You are yourself responsible for complying with the road traffic regulations of the respective country, even when travelling with a group.

Non-contractual liability: For property damage and financial loss, we are liable outside the contract only in the event of gross negligence or intent.

Wasted holiday time, lost holiday enjoyment, etc.: Liability for wasted holiday time, lost holiday enjoyment, frustration damages, etc. is excluded.

We require various data from you and your fellow travellers (such as first name and surname, date of birth, address, telephone number, etc.) for the proper performance of the contract. We are subject to the Swiss Data Protection Act. We are obliged to keep your data securely and store it in Switzerland. We will forward your data to the service providers insofar as this is necessary for the performance of the contract. These may be located abroad, where data protection may not correspond to Swiss standards. Both we and the service providers may be obliged by statutory provisions or official orders to forward your data to (foreign) authorities. This applies in particular, but not exclusively, to air travel to the USA (Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) or TSA Secure Flight programme) and Canada.

Depending on the services booked, you may provide us with particularly sensitive personal data. For example, a meal request may in some cases allow conclusions to be drawn about religious affiliation. Such data is generally forwarded to service providers for the proper performance of the contract or, in certain circumstances, disclosed to government bodies on the basis of statutory obligations or official orders. By providing us with such information, you expressly authorise us to use this information in accordance with this provision.

We will take the liberty of informing you about our programmes and trips in the future. You may unsubscribe from this service at any time. You agree that the data you have provided may be used for advertising purposes and market research by the companies of the EUROBUS Group. Photographs and films may be taken on our trips and may be used for marketing purposes. We reserve the right to forward your data to authorities and third parties in order to enforce our legitimate interests. The same applies in the event of suspicion of a criminal offence.

Applicable law: The legal relationship between you and us is governed exclusively by Swiss law.

For actions against the tour operator, Windisch is agreed as the exclusive place of jurisdiction. We may bring an action against the consumer at their place of residence or in Windisch.