General terms and conditions

1.1. Your registration is binding on you. The travel contract between you and us comes into being upon the unconditional acceptance of your written, telephone, electronic or personal registration. If the person registering makes a reservation for further travellers, he or she is liable for their contractual obligations (in particular payment of the travel price) as for his or her own obligations. For travel arrangements of other tour operators and of airlines which the tour operator merely arranges for you, their own contractual and travel conditions apply.

1.2. Our services are as set out in the description of services in the brochure or the tour listing. Special requests form part of the contract only if they have been confirmed by the booking agent in writing and without reservation. Unless otherwise stated in the tour listing, services begin, for river trips, rail trips and coach trips, at the departure point, and for air travel and Boutique trips, at the airport in Switzerland.

1.3. Your payment: Upon receipt of the travel confirmation, a deposit per person becomes due for immediate payment. The balance must reach your booking agent 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 have the right to withdraw from the contract without compensation and to claim cancellation costs in accordance with clause 2.2.

1.3.1. 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 promotional trips). Tickets for musicals and operas do not form part of the basic arrangement price.

1.4. 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.

1.4.1. Order fee: In addition to our arrangement prices, your booking agent may charge an order fee for advice and sales. For VIP Travel-Club members, the order fee does not apply to direct bookings. Club information is available on request.

2.1. Changes to the booking: For a change of name, the nomination 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 100.00 per person. After this deadline, the cancellation conditions of clause 2.2 apply. For trips involving flights, the provisions of the respective airline apply.

2.2. Cancellations: If you cancel your trip before it begins, we charge a handling fee of CHF 100.00 per person. Handling fees are not covered by any cancellation cost insurance. Any order 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 respectively, we must charge the following cancellation costs, as a percentage of the invoice total, in addition to the handling fee.

2.2.1. Cancellation costs for one-day coach trips (except rustexpress.ch): One-day coach trips cannot be cancelled; in the event of a no-show, the travel price paid will not be refunded. Changes of name are possible at no cost. Rebookings to another date incur a handling fee of CHF 20.– per booking file.

2.2.2. Cancellation costs rustexpress.ch

a) Individuals and groups

• up to 7 days before departure: 0% of the travel price
• 6 – 4 days before departure: 50% of the travel price
• 3 – 0 days before departure / no-show: 100% of the travel price

b) Partial cancellation of group booking from 20 persons

• Up to 2 days before departure: 0% of the travel price
• 1 – 0 days before departure: 80% of the travel price

c) Change of date, individual travellers and groups

• up to 7 days before departure: 0% of the travel price
• from 7 days before departure: CHF 20.– per booking file

d) Hotel bookings: Cancellation costs for hotel bookings in Europa-Park

• up to 15 days before departure: 0% of the travel price
• 14–8 days before departure: 80% of the travel price
• 7–0 days before departure and no-show: 100% of the travel price

2.2.3. Cancellation costs for all other coach trips

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

2.2.4. Cancellation costs for air travel, river cruises and coach trips combined with ocean cruises

• up to 121 days before departure: 10% of the travel price
• 120 – 90 days before departure: 20% of the travel price
• 89 – 60 days before departure: 35% of the travel price
• 59 – 30 days before departure: 50% of the travel price
• 29 – 15 days before departure: 80% of the travel price
• 14 – 0 days before departure / no-show: 100% of the travel price

For flights, the cancellation conditions of the respective airline and fare class apply in accordance with Art. 6.

2.2.5 For hotel-only offers, ocean cruises and Rivage Boutique trips, the cancellation conditions published for the respective offer or the cancellation conditions of the respective partner apply.

2.2.6 For travel-only and last-minute trips, the cancellation costs are 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.

2.3. The decisive date for calculating the deadlines is the receipt of your written notification by us or by the booking agent; if it is received on a weekend or public holiday, the next working day is decisive.

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

• a) for trips within Switzerland, up to the start of the trip
• b) for trips within Europe and to countries with no 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 (differing lead times for obtaining visas). A further condition is that the companies involved in the trip (hotels, airlines or shipping companies) also accept these changes, which can be difficult above all in high season or may fail because of airfare rules.

2.5. Event tickets

2.5.1. Tickets for events, even if booked within a package arrangement, can no longer be cancelled and, in the event of rebookings and cancellations, are charged in full irrespective 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 cost insurance covers the cost of admission tickets as soon as the booking has been confirmed by us.

The mandatory insurance cover is not included in our package prices and varies depending on the travel price or the type of trip. It is valid only if the cancellation is due to illness, accident or death. If you already hold your own cancellation cost or return travel insurance, you may waive this insurance when booking.

Swiss citizens require, depending on the country, a valid identity card, a valid passport or a visa for trips (different regulations can be found in the respective tour listing). Citizens of other countries should state their nationality when booking and enquire at the relevant embassies. The travellers are themselves responsible for complying with these regulations and for obtaining and carrying the necessary travel documents (such as passport, identity card, vaccination certificate, etc.). Please check your travel documents for completeness and accuracy before your departure. If you are refused entry because of incorrect or missing documents, the return travel costs are at your expense (clause 10).

Seats are allocated in the order of registrations and are assigned for the entire duration of the trip (except river trips). We expressly reserve the right to use vehicle types other than those advertised or vehicles of partner companies. If, for example, two coaches are used for a trip, changes in the seat allocation are possible. All journeys are operated with non-smoking coaches.

All air travel is operated in economy class. We and the airlines involved expressly reserve the right to change flight schedules, to use other aircraft types and to bring in other airlines. A change of aircraft type or airline does not constitute a programme change. The introduction of new levies or the increase of existing ones remains reserved. On unaccompanied trips, you are yourself responsible for arriving at the airport in good time on the day of your onward or return flight. This also applies in the event of flight schedule changes made after your departure from Switzerland. If you miss onward or return flights, any additional costs are at your expense. For flights, the cancellation conditions of the respective airline and fare class apply. Tickets that have been issued cannot be rebooked or cancelled. As a rule, flight tickets must be issued at the time of booking. Rebookings, cancellations or changes of name cost 100%. In addition, we charge a handling fee of CHF 100 (long-haul trips CHF 200.-) per ticket.

7.1. 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 agent will inform you of the changes before the contract is concluded.

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

• a) a subsequent increase in transport costs (including fuel surcharges)
• b) newly introduced or increased government levies or charges (e.g. airport taxes, landing fees, embarkation and disembarkation fees, etc.)
• c) exchange rate changes
• d) price increases ordered by the government (e.g. value added tax)

If the costs of these travel services increase, they may be passed on to you. We will implement 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.

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

7.4. Your rights if, after conclusion of the contract, the travel price is increased or programme changes or changes in the transport area are made: If the programme change or the change to individual agreed services leads to a significant change to an essential point of the contract, or if the price increase exceeds 10 percent, you have the following rights:

• a) You may accept the change to the contract;
• b) Within 5 days of receiving our notification, you may withdraw from the contract in writing, and you will receive an immediate refund of the travel price already paid;
• c) Or, within 5 days of receiving our notification, you may notify us in writing 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 consent to the price increase, the programme change or the change to individual agreed services (the 5-day period is met if you hand your notification to the Swiss postal service on the 5th day).

8.1.a) Guaranteed departures: If there are fewer than 10 participants, we reserve the right to cancel the trip for ecological and economic reasons. The deadlines under point 8.1.b) apply.

8.1.b) 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.

8.2. Compelling reasons: Should compelling reasons, such as force majeure, natural disasters, unrest, strikes, government measures, epidemics, pandemics, etc., significantly impede or prevent the safe conduct 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.

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

8.4. Substitute trip: We endeavour to offer you an equivalent substitute trip. If you do not take part in it, the amounts paid will be refunded to you, in the case of a cancellation for compelling reasons less the expenses under 8.5. Any further claims on your part are excluded.

8.5. If we cancel the trip or parts of it for compelling reasons, we may invoice you for the expenses demonstrably incurred, in particular for services of our partners that are not refunded.

If programme changes have to be made during the trip, we endeavour to offer an equivalent substitute service/alternative. If, as a result of the change, the programme has an objective reduction in value, we will compensate you for it. If unforeseen necessary programme changes lead to additional costs because, through no fault of ours, no equivalent substitute service or equivalent return transport option is available and the measure is taken in the objective interest of the customer, these additional costs are borne by the customer. During the trip, the customer is entitled to withdraw only if a significant part of the agreed services is not provided and no reasonable alternative can be offered, or if the customer rejects the substitute service for important reasons.

10.1. Termination of the trip by the traveller: If you break off the trip, the travel price cannot be refunded; any additional costs (e.g. return transport) are at your expense. If you have to break off the trip for compelling reasons (illness, accident, etc.), our driver / tour guide will help you organise your return journey. Only if the trip is broken off for compelling reasons do we reimburse you for those services for which we are not charged (less an appropriate handling fee).

10.2. Termination of the trip by the tour operator: If we have to terminate the trip, in particular for compelling reasons under 8.2., any additional costs are at your expense, whereby those services for which we are not charged are deducted from the additional costs.

11.1. Complaints: If the trip does not correspond to the contractual agreement or you suffer damage, you are obliged to complain about this defect or damage to our driver / tour guide without delay.

11.2. Remedy: The driver / tour guide will endeavour to provide a remedy within a reasonable period during the trip. If no remedy is provided, remedy is not possible or it is insufficient, have the defects or damage complained of, and the lack of remedy, confirmed in writing by the driver / tour guide. However, he or she is not authorised to acknowledge any claims for damages and the like. If you fail to complain and to obtain written confirmation, we cannot deal with your complaints etc. after the end of the trip and you lose all claims.

11.3. Asserting claims: 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.

12.1. General: We will compensate you for the objective value of agreed services that were not provided or were poorly provided, or of 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 the condition that we or our contractual service providers are at fault. The following clauses remain reserved.

12.2. Limitations of liability, exclusions of liability

12.2.1. International conventions and national laws: If international conventions and national laws contain limitations or exclusions of compensation for damage resulting from non-performance or improper performance of the contract, we are liable only within the scope of those 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.

12.2.2. 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 contractually agreed service
• c) force majeure, natural disasters, unrest, strikes, government measures, epidemics, pandemics or an event which we, the intermediary or the service provider could not foresee or avert despite due care

In these cases, any obligation on our part to pay damages is excluded.

12.2.3. Personal injury, accidents, etc.: We are liable for personal injury, death, bodily harm, etc. resulting from non-performance or improper performance of the contract 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) remain reserved. The use of car parks and parking garages is at your own risk.

12.2.4. Damage to property and financial loss, etc.: In the case of damage to property 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 travel price; lower liability limits or exclusions of liability in international conventions and national laws (clause 12.2.1) remain reserved. The use of car parks and parking garages is at your own risk.

12.2.5. 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, photo and video equipment, etc. You must on no account leave these items in an unattended coach or anywhere else unsupervised. We are not liable for theft, loss, damage or misuse.

12.2.6. Coach, train, flight and ship timetables, etc.: Even with careful trip organisation, we cannot guarantee that these timetables will be kept. Delays may occur precisely because of heavy traffic, congestion, accidents, overloaded airspace, diversions, delayed border clearance, etc. We are not liable in any of these cases. We strongly advise you to allow for possible delays in your travel planning.

12.3. Events during the trip

12.3.1. Liability for third-party services: Outside the agreed travel programme, local events or excursions may possibly 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 correct 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.

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

12.4. Non-contractual liability

For damage to property and financial loss, we are liable on a non-contractual basis only in the case of gross negligence or intent.

12.5. Wasted holiday time, loss of holiday enjoyment, etc. Liability for wasted holiday time, loss of holiday enjoyment, damages for frustration, etc. is excluded.

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

13.2. Depending on the services booked, you transmit to us sensitive personal data. For example, a meal request may allow conclusions to be drawn about religious affiliation. Such data is, as a rule, 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.

13.3. We will take the liberty of informing you in future about our programmes and trips. You may unsubscribe from this service at any time. You agree that the data you have provided may be used by the companies of the EUROBUS Group for advertising purposes and market research. Photos 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.

Travelling with EUROBUS requires good mental and physical health. If in doubt, enquire before or when booking about the health requirements that are essential for the proper enjoyment of our trips.

The safeguarding of the amounts you have paid in connection with your package tour is guaranteed under the new Federal Act.

Guaranteed there and back thanks to the statutory guarantee fund of the Swiss travel industry. We are a member.

Before any court proceedings, you should contact the independent Ombudsman of the Swiss Travel Industry. The Ombudsman endeavours to reach a fair and balanced settlement for any kind of problem between you and us or the booking agent through whom you booked the trip. Address: Ombudsman of the Swiss Travel Industry, Postfach, 8033 Zürich.

18.1. Applicable law: Swiss law alone applies to the legal relationship between you and us.

18.2. For claims against the tour operator, the exclusive place of jurisdiction of Windisch is agreed. We may sue the consumer at his or her place of residence or in Windisch.

Version February 2025