Terms and Conditions for Holiday Trips
These contractual terms are based on the legal relationship between you and the EUROBUS Group (in particular also the Car Rouge brand), hereinafter referred to as the tour operator, and apply to all package tours or individual services offered in our own name. In the case of services of third parties that we merely arrange, such as package tours of other coach operators or tour operators, or individual services such as flight tickets, tickets, rental cars, hotel accommodation, etc., you conclude the contract directly with that company and we are not a party to the contract.
1. Conclusion of contract, fellow travellers, payment
1.1. Your registration is binding on you. The travel contract between you and us comes into being when we accept your written, telephone, electronic or personal registration without reservation. If the registering party makes a reservation for further travellers, he or she is liable for their contractual obligations (in particular payment of the trip price) as for his or her own obligations. For travel arrangements by other tour operators and by airlines that are merely arranged for you by the tour operator, their own contractual and travel conditions apply.
1.2. Our services are as set out in the service description in the brochure or the trip announcement. Special requests only form part of the contract if they have been confirmed in writing and without reservation by the booking office. Unless stated otherwise in the trip announcement, services begin for river cruises, rail and coach trips at the place of departure, and for flight trips and Boutique trips at the airport in Switzerland.
1.3. Your payment: On receipt of the travel confirmation, a deposit per person falls 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 on booking. If the deposit or balance is not paid on time, we have the right to withdraw from the contract without compensation and to claim the cancellation costs in accordance with clause 2.2.
1.3.1. Reka cheques / credit cards: A maximum of 50% of the arrangement, but no more than CHF 500.– per person and trip, may be paid with Reka cheques (excluding day trips and promotional trips). Tickets for musicals and operas do not count towards the basic arrangement price.
1.4. Unless stated otherwise, 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. 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 does not apply to direct bookings. Club information is available on request.
2. Changes to the booking or cancellation of the trip by the traveller
2.1. Changes to the booking: For a change of name, nomination of a substitute traveller, changes to the travel dates within the period of validity of the trip programme, booked additional services, the destination or the boarding point up to 31 days before the departure date, we charge a processing 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 starts, we charge a processing fee of CHF 100.00 per person. Processing fees are not covered by any cancellation 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 in addition to the processing fee charge the following cancellation costs as a percentage of the invoice total.
2.2.1. Cancellation costs for one-day coach trips (except rustexpress.ch): One-day coach trips cannot be cancelled, and in the event of a no-show the trip price paid is not refunded. Changes of name are possible at no cost. Rebookings to another date incur a processing 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 trip price
6 – 4 days before departure 50% of the trip price
3 – 0 days before departure / no-show 100% of the trip price
b) Partial cancellation of group booking of 20 persons or more
Up to 2 days before departure 0% of the trip price
1 – 0 days before departure 80% of the trip price
c) Date change for individual travellers and groups
up to 7 days before departure 0% of the trip price
from 7 days before departure CHF 20.– per booking file
d) Hotel bookings: Cancellation costs for hotel bookings at Europa-Park
up to 15 days before departure 0% of the trip price
14–8 days before departure 80% of the trip price
7–0 days before departure
and no-show 100% of the trip price
2.2.3. Cancellation costs for all other coach trips up to
61 days before departure 0% of the trip price
60–31 days before departure 10% of the trip price
30–22 days before departure 30% of the trip price
21–15 days before departure 50% of the trip price
14–8 days before departure 80% of the trip price
7–0 days before departure and no-show 100% of the trip price
2.2.4. Cancellation costs for flight trips, river cruises and coach trips combined with ocean cruises
up to 121 days before departure 10% of the trip price
120 – 90 days before departure 20% of the trip price
89 – 60 days before departure 35% of the trip price
59 – 30 days before departure 50% of the trip price
29 – 15 days before departure 80% of the trip price
14 – 0 days before departure / no-show 100% of the trip 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 as published for each 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 in accordance with 2.2.1 to 2.2.4, the partners' cancellation costs will be passed on to you.
2.3. The decisive factor for calculating the deadlines is the receipt of your written notification by us or the booking office; if it arrives on a weekend or public holiday, the next working day is decisive.
2.4. Substitute traveller: If you have to cancel the trip, you may nominate a substitute traveller who takes up 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 trip price, the processing fee and any additional costs. A substitute person may join:
a) for trips within Switzerland, up to the start of the trip
b) for trips in Europe and in countries without a visa requirement (excl. flight trips), up to 48 hours before the agreed departure
c) for trips overseas, ocean cruises, flight trips and trips to countries with a visa requirement, by arrangement with your travel agency, 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 especially in high season or may fail because of airfare regulations.
2.5. Event tickets
2.5.1. Tickets for events, even if booked within a package arrangement, can no longer be cancelled and are charged in full for rebookings and cancellations, regardless of the date.
2.5.2. If EUROBUS is able to resell event tickets, only the processing fee is charged. Settlement takes place after the trip has been carried out.
2.5.3. Cancellation insurance covers the cost of admission tickets as soon as the booking has been confirmed by us.
3. Insurance
Mandatory insurance cover is not included in our package prices and varies depending on the trip price and type of trip. It is only valid if the cancellation is due to illness, accident or death. If you already have your own cancellation or repatriation insurance, you may waive this insurance when booking.
4. Entry formalities
Swiss citizens need, depending on the country, a valid identity card, a valid passport or a visa for the trips (you will find any differing regulations in the respective trip announcement). Citizens of other countries should state their nationality when booking and enquire at the relevant embassies. 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 correctness before your departure. If you are refused entry because of incorrect or missing documents, the costs of the return journey are at your expense (clause 10).
5. Your coach (mostly EUROBUS)
Seats are allocated in the order of registrations and are assigned for the entire duration of the trip (except river cruises). We expressly reserve the right to use vehicle types other than those advertised, or vehicles of friendly companies. If, for example, two coaches are used for a trip, changes in seat allocation are possible. All trips are carried out with non-smoking coaches.
6. Flights
All flights are operated in economy class. We and the airlines involved expressly reserve the right to change flight schedules, to use other aircraft types and to call in other airlines. A change of aircraft type or airline does not constitute a change to the programme. The introduction of new charges 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 connecting or return flight. This also applies in the event of flight schedule changes that occur after your departure from Switzerland. If you miss connecting 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 processing fee of CHF 100 (long-haul trips CHF 200.-) per ticket.
7. Changes to programme and prices
7.1. Changes before conclusion of contract: We expressly reserve the right to change brochure information, service descriptions and prices in the brochures and on the price lists before you book. Should this be the case, your booking office will inform you of the changes before the contract is concluded.
7.2. Price changes after conclusion of contract: In exceptional cases it is possible that the agreed price has to be increased. 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 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 rise, 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 have the rights set out in clause 7.4.
7.3. Programme changes, changes after your booking and before the start of the trip: In your interest too, we reserve the right to change the trip programme or individual agreed services (such as accommodation, mode of transport, means of transport, airlines, flight times, etc.) if force majeure or an event that could not be foreseen or averted despite all due care, such as natural disasters, unrest, strikes, government measures, epidemics, etc., so requires. We will endeavour to offer you equivalent replacement services. We will inform you as quickly as possible of such changes and their effect on the price.
7.4. Your rights if, after conclusion of the contract, the trip 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 considerable 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) You may withdraw from the contract in writing within 5 days of receiving our notification, and the trip 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 replacement trip proposed by us. If you do not send us a notification under letter b) or c), you agree 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 post on the 5th day).
8. Cancellation of the trip by the tour operator
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., considerably impede or prevent the safe conduct of the trip, we may cancel the trip or parts of it or end 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, in the event of such a means of transport being chartered elsewhere, to cancel the trip no later than 90 days before the start of the trip.
8.4. Replacement trip: We will endeavour to offer you an equivalent replacement 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 in accordance with 8.5. Any further claims on your part are excluded.
8.5. If the trip or parts of it are cancelled for compelling reasons, we may charge you for expenses demonstrably incurred, in particular services of our partners that are not refunded.
9. Programme changes, failure and services during the trip
If programme changes have to be made during the trip, we will endeavour to offer an equivalent replacement service/alternative. Should the programme have an objectively lower value as a result of the change, we will compensate you for this. If unforeseen necessary programme changes lead to additional costs because, through no fault of ours, no equivalent replacement service or equivalent return transport option is available and the measure is taken in the customer's objective interest, these additional costs are borne by the customer. During the trip the customer may only withdraw if a substantial part of the agreed services is not provided and no reasonable alternative can be offered, or if the customer rejects the replacement service for important reasons.
10. Termination of the trip
10.1. Termination of the trip by the traveller: If you break off the trip, the trip 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 a reasonable processing fee).
10.2. Termination of the trip by the organiser: If we have to break off the trip, in particular for compelling reasons in accordance with 8.2., any additional costs are at your expense, with those services for which we are not charged being deducted from the additional costs.
11. If you have a complaint
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 immediately.
11.2. Remedy: The driver / tour guide will endeavour to provide a remedy within a reasonable time during the trip. If no remedy is provided, a remedy is not possible or it is insufficient, have the driver / tour guide confirm to you in writing the defects or damage complained of and the failure to remedy. He or she is not, however, authorised to acknowledge any claims for damages or the like. If you fail to complain and to obtain written confirmation, we cannot address your complaints, etc. after the end of the trip and you lose all claims.
11.3. 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.
12. Liability of the tour operator
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 replacement service on the spot. This is on 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 agreements and national laws: If international agreements 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 agreements and laws. International agreements and national laws with limitations or exclusions of liability exist in particular in the transport sector, such as 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 compensation is excluded.
12.2.3. 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 agreements and national laws (clause 12.2.1) remain reserved. Use of the car parks and parking garages is at your own risk.
12.2.4. Damage to property and financial loss, etc.: For 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 trip price, lower liability limits or exclusions of liability in international agreements and national laws (clause 12.2.1) remaining reserved. Use of the 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 unguarded coach or anywhere else unattended. 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 as a result 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 take possible delays into account when planning your trip.
12.3. Events during the trip
12.3.1. Liability for third-party services: Outside the agreed trip 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 is solely responsible for checking the provider, its staff and the equipment.
12.3.2. Safety on cycling and walking tours: You pursue your sport at your own risk. Good health is a prerequisite for taking part. Should a participant not meet this requirement, the tour management is entitled to refuse participation in the walks or bike tours. The trip price paid will not be refunded. You are yourself responsible for complying with the road traffic regulations customary in each country, even if 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 cases of gross negligence or intent.
12.5. Wasted holiday time, lost enjoyment of the holiday, etc. Liability for wasted holiday time, lost enjoyment of the holiday, damage from frustration, etc. is excluded
13. Data protection
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 correct handling of the contract. We are subject to the Swiss Data Protection Act. We are obliged to keep your data secure and store it in Switzerland. We will forward your data to the service providers insofar as necessary for handling the contract. These may be located abroad, where data protection may not meet Swiss standards. Both we and the service providers may be obliged by statutory provisions or official orders to forward data about you to (foreign) authorities. This applies in particular, but not exclusively, to flights 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 particularly sensitive personal data. For example, a dietary request may allow conclusions to be drawn about religious affiliation. Such data is generally forwarded to service providers for correct 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 provide may be used for advertising purposes and market research by the companies of the EUROBUS Group. 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 if a criminal offence is suspected.
13. Travel and health
Travelling with EUROBUS requires good mental and physical health. If in doubt, enquire before or at the time of booking about the health requirements that are essential for flawless enjoyment of our trips.
14. Securing of customer funds
The securing of the amounts you have paid in connection with your package tour is guaranteed in accordance with the new federal law.
15. Travel guarantee
Guaranteed there and back thanks to the statutory Guarantee Fund of the Swiss travel industry. We are a member.
16. Ombudsman
Before legal proceedings, you should turn to 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 office where you booked the trip. Address: Ombudsman der Schweizer Reisebranche, Postfach, 8033 Zurich.
17. The invalidity of individual provisions of the travel contract does not render the entire contract invalid.
18. Applicable law and place of jurisdiction
18.1. Applicable law: The legal relationship between you and us is governed exclusively by Swiss law.
18.2. The exclusive place of jurisdiction for claims against the tour operator is agreed to be Windisch. We may sue the consumer at his or her place of residence or in Windisch.
Version February 2025