Once the Operators as detailed in Clause 14 below, (hereinafter referred to as “the Operator”) confirms your booking a contract is made between you and the Operator under the terms and conditions set out below. Your statutory rights are not affected.
1. BOOKING / ACCEPTANCE
1.1 The Operator accepts a booking on the understanding that full payment has been collected and held either by the Operator directly, or by an authorised travel agent on the Operator’s behalf. Bookings made via the Operators’ own websites are considered as made with the operator directly.
1.2 On confirmation of your booking, subject to availability and at the Operator’s discretion, the Operator will reserve your place on your selected products (“trips”). It is your responsibility, as the customer, to check the accuracy of your booking and travel dates. A contract is only made between you and the Operator upon your booking being confirmed and accepted and communication thereof to either you or your authorised travel agent (hereinafter referred to as “confirmation”).
1.3 On confirmation of your booking, an e-ticket will be sent to either you or your travel agent.
2. TRAVELLING
2.1 The Operator tickets / e-tickets are not transferable. Your ticket must be produced at any time at the Operator’s request. You will also be required to produce your valid passport each time you travel. (Photo identification is required for all trips).
2.2 Baggage is restricted to one reasonable sized suitcase or backpack (maximum weight 20KG), and one small carry-on bag per passenger.
2.3 It is your responsibility to check-in with the Operator 15 minutes prior to the specified departure time. The Operator will not be liable for any service that leaves or arrives later than its specified time, even if as a result you miss a connecting service. The Operator will use its best efforts to ensure that departure and arrival times are met.
3. CANCELLATION & CHANGES
3.1 Cancellation of your booking must be in writing to either the Operator (direct bookings) or the authorised agent through which the booking was made. If your booking was made through an authorised agent all amendments and cancellations must be made through them (they may also levy cancellation charges in addition to those noted below - please check at time of reservation). When written notification has been received by the Operator, a fee will be levied to cover the administration costs incurred (25% of booking price being the minimum fee). The amount of the cancellation fee will be dependent on the number of days prior to the departure date of the trip as follows (not including day of departure). Where a deposit has been made on a booking and the booking is cancelled by you prior to full payment or in the circumstances of the balance not being paid by the due date. No refund of the deposit will be applicable.
The following cancellation policies apply:
BUSABOUT EXPLORER – PLEASE SEE PARAGRAPH 4.13.
BUSABOUT ADVENTURES & EASTERN TREKKER:
3.2 Iberian, Italian, Egyptian & Moroccan Adventures and Eastern Trekker: up to 14 full days prior to departure full refund less 25% of the price paid, within 14 full days no refund applies.
3.3 Greek Island Hopper: up to 14 full days prior to departure full refund less 25% of the price paid, within 14 full days no refund applies. No itinerary changes are permitted within 14 days of departure date.
3.4 Croatia Island Hopper & One Way Sail: up to 22 full days prior to departure full refund less 25% of price paid, 21-15 full days full refund less 50% of price paid, within 14 full days no refund applies.
3.5 Festivals & Special Events: Special conditions may apply to non-standard products (e.g. Pamplona, La Tomatina, Oktoberfest), Cancellation fees (unless specifically stated otherwise): up to 22 full days prior to departure full refund less 25% of price paid, within 21 full days no refund applies.
HAGGIS ADVENTURES & SHAMROCKER ADVENTURES:
3.6 Up to 7 full days prior to departure full refund less 25% of the price paid, up to 3 full days full refund less 50% of the price paid, within 3 days - no refund applies.
3.7 Festivals & Special Events: Special conditions may apply to non-standard products (e.g. Festive, Easter, St. Patrick's Day packages). Cancellation fees (unless specifically stated otherwise): up to 7 days prior to departure 50% refund. Within 7 days - no refund,
3.8 Group / Bespoke Tours - specific cancellation fees apply to each tour. We will inform you of these prior to payment. A non-refundable deposit may be required to cover all accommodation costs.
GENERAL
3.9 No refunds will be made in respect of any unused portion of any ticket.
3.10 If after your booking has been confirmed, you wish to change to an alternative departure date, or wish to change to another product, you may do so subject to minimum notice of 14 days prior to departure (with the exception of Croatian Island Hopper Sailing, which requires a minimum of 30 days and Greek Island Flexi-Hoppers and Egyptian Adventures which require a minimum of 15 days notice). The first date change is free of administration fees. All subsequent date changes will incur an administration fee of 25 GBP. Date changes will only be extended to 3 months from the original departure date. Accommodation date changes will incur an administration fee of 25 GBP. Product changes to one of lower value will result in the loss of any special discounts applicable to the originally booked product and are subject to an administration fee of 25 GBP. Product changes to one of higher value will require the difference in price to be paid. This condition does NOT apply to Busabout Explorer – please see Paragraph 4.13.
3.11 If the reason for your cancellation is covered under your insurance policy, you may be able to make a claim under that policy.
4. BUSABOUT EXPLORER PASSES – SPECIFIC CONDITIONS
4.1 A ‘sector’ is defined as any journey between two destination stops on the Busabout Explorer network.
4.2 The first travel date of your Busabout Explorer Pass (Flexitrip or Loop) (hereafter referred to as Pass(es)) must be nominated and confirmed at the time of purchase.
4.3 Departure dates for the Pass(es) can be changed at no charge up to 7 days prior to the confirmed first departure date, subject to availability.
4.4 Confirmed seat reservations can be made for any sector at the time of booking or at any time as you travel up until 24 hours prior to each scheduled departure, subject to availability. Sector bookings may be changed without charge, subject to availability.
4.5 Individual sectors may only be travelled once.
4.6 It is strongly recommended that you book your sectors as far in advance as possible to ensure availability of your desired travel plan. The Operator cannot be held responsible if sectors are not available because coaches are already full.
4.7 If you do not wish to travel any pre-booked sectors you must cancel them at least 48 hours in advance. If you fail to do so you will only be allowed to travel that same sector at a later date on a ‘standby’ basis.
4.8 Travel must take place within the 2008 operating periods as stated.
4.9 The Busabout e-ticket must be presented to the Busabout Guide on your departure, to be exchanged for the Pass(es) as specified on the e-ticket. The Operator will not allow you to travel if you do not have a valid eticket.
4.10 Passes may also be issued by the Busabout’s London Service Centre. Please check you have the correct tickets, as mistakes cannot be rectified. If your first journey on Busabout is an Easy Link, you will need to exchange your e-ticket for the Easy Link vouchers before commencement of travel, at either the Busabout Service Centres in London or Athens.
4.11 You are responsible for making all accommodation arrangements. Busabout representatives will assist where reasonably possible during your travel days.
4.12 If you lose your Pass(es), or it is stolen, you must inform The Operator immediately. You will not be permitted to travel without a valid Pass(es). The Operator will replace lost or stolen Pass(es) at a cost of GBP £35. A replacement Pass will carry the same validity as the original ticket at the time of loss.
4.13 Cancellation of Pass(es) - Although Busabout Passes are made up of multiple “loops” or “flexistops”, for purposes of cancellation or changes, your Busabout Pass is considered to be a single product and fees are applied to the full value of the pass price. Pass(es) may be cancelled up to 7 days prior to a confirmed departure date and are subject to cancellation fees. Cancellation fees are applied to the full value of the individual pass price paid. Where multiple passes have been purchased and multiple buy discounts have been applied any refund due will be reduced accordingly by the amount of the discount granted on purchase. A cancellation fee of 25% of the price paid will apply to any cancellation of a Busabout Explorer, where the cancellation is more than 7 days prior to a confirmed departure date. The 25% cancellation fee will also apply for Busabout Explorer Passes if a departure date has not been nominated. No refunds will be provided after travel has commenced or has been deemed to have commenced. Travel will be deemed to have commenced within 7 days of a confirmed travel date or where a passenger fails to travel without prior cancellation.
4.14 Passes cannot be “downgraded” to passes of lower value, nor can they be exchanged for other Busabout products. Up to 7 days prior to commencement of travel, Busabout may, at its discretion, allow passengers to “upgrade” to a similar pass of greater value without incurring a cancellation fee on the original pass. In this event, only the difference in prices will be payable.
4.15 All refund claims, in respect of unused open-dated tickets, must be submitted in writing by October 31, 2008. All refunds will be subject to an administration fee of 25% of the price paid.
4.16 Busabout Easy Links are only offered only in conjunction with a Busabout Explorer Pass and can not be purchased independently. Easy Link vouchers are open dated, and must be exchanged at the office of the designated Ferry Operator. Once you have been issued with ferry tickets, changes to those tickets can only be made by the Ferry Operator and subject to their booking conditions. Easy Link vouchers that are lost or stolen cannot be replaced. Busabout Easy Links are non-refundable. Busabout Easy Links vouchers must be redeemed by October 31, 2008.
5. YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
5.1 The products offered are forms of transportation. For this reason the Operators representatives cannot offer constant special attention or assistance should you have any physical disability requiring such attention.
5.2 The programmes brochured have been designed for travellers aged 18 years and over with the style and operation specifically designed for young independent travellers. This fact should be recognised when you book. Passengers are primarily in the 18-35 year age group.
5.3 Passengers must be aged 18 years or over. The Operator may, at its absolute discretion, and in exceptional circumstances, may give confirmation of acceptance of a person outside this age restriction, provided that they are accompanied by a person 18 years or over, there is no upper age restriction.
5.4 Any medical condition or physical condition requiring attention or treatment must be advised in writing to the relevant Operator when you make the booking.
5.6 It is your responsibility to have a valid passport and all necessary visas, permits and certificates on your person for your selected itinerary and to have all necessary vaccinations and to comply with applicable laws. Schengen visas – it is your responsibility to have your passport stamped on entry to the European Union. The Operator will not allow you to travel if you do not have a valid visa for your destination.
5.7 You agree to comply with the authority of the Operators representative and the laws and regulations of the countries visited, including customs and foreign exchange restrictions. If you do not do so, you may, at the discretion of the Operator’s representative, be asked to leave the trip. No refunds will be issued in such circumstances.
5.8 You agree that the Operators’ representatives may take photographs and films of you while you are a passenger. These may be used in our Group brochures and/or advertising and
publicity material without obtaining any further consent or payment in respect of such photographs and/or films.
5.9 You agree that Operator may use any text written in our comments books or recorded in our customer surveys, in our group brochures, website and/or advertising and publicity material without obtaining any further consent or payment in respect of comments.
5.10 There may be times when the Operator’s personnel have to make a decision in the interests of safety. It is a condition of bookings that you comply with the authority and decisions of the appointed representative of the Operator. If you do not comply with the said representative and are not compatible with the general enjoyment and well being of members of the trip, we reserve the right to refuse to allow you to continue the trip. In such a case we will not be liable for any refund, compensation or any additional costs incurred by you. We cannot accept liability for the behaviour of others on your trip nor if any facilities are curtailed as a result of their actions.
5.11 It is your responsibility to meet the Operator at the pick-up points. Because of the nature of the services, the Operator will not be liable if any service leaves or arrives later than its specified time, even if as a result you miss a connecting service. The Operator will use its best efforts to ensure that departure and arrival times are met.
5.12 The Operators do not tolerate any form of abuse, verbal or otherwise, of its personnel. Any passenger abusing or threatening personnel will automatically forfeit their right to onward travel.
5.13 You are responsible for looking after your personal belongings. The Operator cannot be held responsible for any personal belongings left behind on any trip irrespective of the circumstances.
5.14 It is the responsibility of the passenger to check the accuracy of dates booked upon receipt of their travel documents.
6. LOCAL TOURS & EXCURSIONS.
6.1 You will have the opportunity to purchase local tours or excursions from the Guides. These tours and excursions are run by local operators and you will be subject to their terms and conditions.
6.2 Local tours and excursions purchased via Guides are non-refundable. It is your responsibility to meet the tour at the designated departure point and time. Travel will only be permitted on presentation of the official Guide issued voucher to the named operator.
6.3 Local tour and Excursion vouchers that are lost or stolen cannot be replaced.
7. INSURANCE
7.1 There is no travel insurance cover included in the price of any pass, ticket or product represented in this brochure.
7.2 The Operators very strongly recommends that you purchase Travel Insurance that covers all your travels. Travel Insurance is mandatory for travel on all Moroccan, Croatian & Egyptian products.
7.3 The Operator strongly recommends that you take out comprehensive insurance cover for cancellation, medical expenses, personal accident, personal baggage, money and public liability before you travel. You may also wish to indemnify the Operator against all third-party claims, actions, damages and remedies that may be brought against the Operator in respect of your travel.
8. CHANGES BY THE OPERATOR
8.1 Prices in this brochure are based on costs and exchange rates at October 1, 2007. The Operators reserve the right to decrease the price of any brochured product. The final price will be confirmed to you before you make your booking.
8.2 No surcharge in respect of costs or currency fluctuations will be applied where a product has been booked and paid in full. However, a surcharge may be necessary at other times should there be significant changes in the following circumstances: (a) Transportation costs including the cost of fuel. (b) Dues, taxes (including road taxes and tolls) or levies charged by the governments or their agencies. (c) Exchange rates. The surcharge will only be made where the increase in cost will affect the price of the Pass by more than 2%.
8.3 The Operator reserves the right to vary, modify or cancel any itinerary, either part or wholly. If this is necessary, they will substitute alternative arrangements of comparable value, or at the Operator’s discretion provide a full or partial refund.
8.4 If access to any country or area is prohibited for reasons of force majeure (i.e. circumstances such as political unrest, war or threat of war, riots, civil strife, closure of airports or ports, industrial disputes, terrorist activity, natural and nuclear disasters, fire, epidemic or health risk, Acts of God, adverse weather conditions or other similar events beyond the Operator’s control) the Operator reserves the right to amend or alter the product, or fully or partially withdraw the programme. If the Operator cannot offer suitable substitute services, you will be entitled to a refund less reasonable expenses incurred by us in respect of your booking. The amount of the refund will be calculated pro-rata based on used portion of the ticket. No compensation will be paid.
8.5 The Operator reserves the right to alter the size of vehicle they use at any time.
9. WEATHER CONDITIONS
Under no circumstances can the Operators be held responsible for any delay, deviation or cancellation due to weather conditions, nor can any trip be cancelled or amended by you at any time on the basis of weather conditions.
10. NO SMOKING POLICY
The Operators operate a No Smoking Policy on all their vehicles.
11. DISPUTE PROCEDURES
11.1 If you have a complaint in respect of the Operator, you should inform the Operator’s Representative at the time. Any complaint that cannot be resolved by the Representative should be submitted in writing within 28 days of the incident to The Customer Service Manager, Radical Travel Group Limited, 60 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1TB, Scotland, United Kingdom so that your complaint can be investigated. The Operators will not consider complaints after the 28 day period.
11.2 The contract and all matters arising in respect hereof shall be subject to Scottish Law unless the operator agrees otherwise in writing.
11.3 If any provision of this contract is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be deemed to be re-written to give effect to the same purpose within the permitted limits of the law. The validity and enforceability of the other provisions shall not be affected.
11.4 If you are unsuccessful in any legal action instituted against the Operator, you agree to pay all the Operator’s costs, including but not limited to attorney / client costs.
12. CONTRACTING PARTIES
12.1 The booking conditions detailed herein contain the entire contract between you and the Operator. No representation, term, warranty or condition can be expressed or implied by reference to any other writing, advertisement or conversation. This contract may only be varied by a duly authorised officer or Director of the Operator in writing.
12.2 Your contract is with the Operator. At any time, and at the Operator’s complete discretion, the Operator may nominate to you in writing any other company or person to have the benefit of some or all of those provisions of this contract, which the Operator may then specify, as if you had agreed the provisions concerned directly with that company or person in the first place as well as agreeing them with the Operator. The Operator may at its complete discretion assign all or any rights and liabilities arising under or by virtue of this or any other contract with you.
12.3 All bookings with carriers and other service providers are subject to their terms and conditions and limitations of liability. Please note that some of these limit or exclude liability in respect of death, personal injury, delay and loss or damage to baggage. Whilst the Operator cannot accept any responsibility for any loss as a result of such actions or as a result of any act or omission of any such third parties, the Operator will give reasonable assistance in helping to resolve any reasonable dispute.
12.4 Many accommodation arrangements referred to in this brochure are provided independently by third party providers (unless stated otherwise). Any such contracts undertaken are made directly between you and the third party accommodation provider. They are subject to the terms and conditions, and limitations of liability, imposed by the provider. All such arrangements are made independently of the Operator, regardless of any help and assistance, which the Operator may provide in securing such arrangements.
12.5 Please note that no airline or carrier depicted or recommended in this brochure by virtue of their endorsement of this brochure represents themselves either as contracting with any legal relationship with any such purchaser.
12.6 Every effort is made to ensure brochure accuracy at the time of going to print, however the Operator cannot be held responsible for printing and typographical errors, or errors arising from unforeseen circumstances.
13. VALIDITY
The programmes advertised in this brochure are valid from the operating season pertaining to each operator as specified in the brochure, unless stated to the contrary. These Terms and Conditions supersede all previous Terms and Conditions issued and are valid for all reservations made on or after 1st November 2007, until replaced.
14. OPERATING COMPANIES
14.1 The Busabout Explorer, Busabout Adventures & Eastern Trekker services advertised in this brochure are operated by (unless otherwise stated) Busabout Operations Ltd., J.F. Burrows Building, Chancery Lane, 87 Front Street, Hamilton, HM12 Bermuda, unless stated to the contrary as follows:
14.1a) The principle operator of the Moroccan Adventures programme featured in this brochure is Nomadic Expeditions Ltd. Their terms and conditions apply (available on request).
14.1b) The principle operator of the Croatian Island Hopping & One Way Sail programme featured in this brochure is Katarina Lines d.o.o., Croatia. Their terms and conditions apply (available on request).
14.1c) The Athens Link and the Greek Island ferries are operated by various transport providers within the relevant region. All travel is subject to their Terms & Conditions.
14.1d) The principle operator of the Egyptian Adventures programme featured in this brochure is Spring Tours Egypt. Their terms and conditions apply (available on request).
14.2 HAGGIS Adventures are operated by Radical Travel Group Limited, 7/9 Blackfriars Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1NB, Registered in Scotland No. 136334.
14.3 Shamrocker Adventures are operated by Shamrocker Adventures Limited, Kinlay House, 2/12 Lord Edward Street, Dublin 2, Registered in Ireland No. 281604.
14.4 The principle operator of the Eastern Trekker Transylvanian Trek is Soft Ride, Romania. The principle operator of the Eastern Trekker Bosnian Trek is Green Visions, Bosnia.