GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE and SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE
A-LYS France operates as a travel agency under the brand name “A-LYS France by Travel Collection”.
This is a brand attached to the company Travel Collection – Patricia Linot Conseil, duly registered for the organization of stays and trips in France, under license IM077110019 – SARL Patricia Linot Conseil – 35 rue du Grand Moulin – 77930 Perthes – France /.
RCS 517939088 – ATOUT France registration number: 077 110 019 – APST financial guarantee – RCP Groupama Hiscox N°00224230
A-LYS France offers chauffeur-driven private transfer services and tailor-made programs in France.
EVTC card in the register of Vehicle Operators with driver is n° EVTC069250139
By using this Internet site and booking stays and tourist services through A-LYS France by Travel Collection, the customer accepts the present General and Special Conditions of Sale, completed by the Special Conditions of Sale applied by the service provider concerned, in their entirety.
Programs offered by A-LYS France by Travel Collection
Our tours and programs are made up of experiences and selections from various suppliers, most of which are charming, exclusive, private and small-scale activities… They are still subject to unforeseeable changes (due to special events or other unavailabilities – weather, staff shortages, illness, access). …).
Consequently, A-LYS France cannot be held responsible in the event that some of its service providers are unable to provide the service proposed at the time of the offer. However, we will endeavor to find an equivalent or similar solution/offer in order to maintain the spirit and quality of the proposed service.
We may have to make a change for operators and venues of similar quality, and that’s why we don’t necessarily give the names of our suppliers, but you can rest assured that we do our best to offer the same level of quality/service every time, even more so!
Our rates are given on a VAT-inclusive basis, in compliance with travel agency regulations (Travel agency VAT regime art. 266,1-e of the C.G.I.).
Terms of payment
On signing the contract/quotation, the customer undertakes to pay a deposit corresponding to 30% of the total invoice amount.
30 days before the start of our services, the Customer undertakes to pay the remaining balance of the invoice (70%).
In the event of booking within a shorter period than the aforementioned schedule, deposits will be accumulated and paid on the date of booking (unless otherwise stated).
Thus, if a booking is confirmed less than 30 days before the start of the service, payment of 100% of the booking will be requested and required in order to execute the present booking.
Please note the following terms and conditions: full payment is due in the event of special operation such as our prepacked & longstay packages requesting an engagement to maintain the tour service…), for hotel and/or package services requesting a payment in advance, for the purchase of TGV (French high speed train) tickets and for services provided during local or bank holidays, carnivals, festivals and high season periods.
Payment terms & methods
The amount of the deposit(s) will be deducted from the final invoice (balance), subject to the possible application of cancellation penalties and other services that may be invoiced (e.g. hotel extras). Unless otherwise specified in the contract, balance invoices are payable within 3 days of the invoice date at the latest.
Bank transfers, credit cards (VISA, Mastercard) or cash (within legal limits) are accepted for payment of invoices and deposits. Bank charges related to invoice payments are at the customer’s expense.
Cancellation conditions (except in the case of specific conditions mentioned in the contract)
Up to 30 days before the first day of the event: 20% of the amount cancelled will be charged or retained as a cancellation fee.
Between 7 and 2 days before the first day of the event: 75% of the amount cancelled will be charged or retained as a cancellation fee.
Less than 2 days before the start of the event: 100% of the amount cancelled will be charged or retained as a cancellation fee.
Please note that the cancellation conditions for hotels and other accommodation remain applicable when included in our tours.
MAJOR SALES CONDITIONS BETWEEN THE CLIENT & US
Tour / Itinerary Disclaimer
Programs are created and carried out by our team, and cannot be taken over on behalf of another agency.
The itineraries described in tours are a general overview and our intention is to deliver the tour as close as possible to the detailed info.
However, we reserve the right to modify the tour as needed. The tour details documents, online tour pages, and brochures are only a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations and people is not a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to variations and changes due to local circumstances.
Insurances
A-Lys France does NOT include Travel insurance in any of our tours. We strongly recommend that you opt for a special travel Insurance considering the distance, length & physical situation of any of the participants. Please request your travel agent for this option.
However we do subscribe for a specific local insurance guaranteing our services, through the insurance company listed in our general terms above, to protect as much as possible any inland situations & our own interests when involved in a local incident.
Selected Transportation
Airline flight is NOT included in our Tours. Main transportation services we offer are connected with Private transfers (Cars / minibus & buses) and some specific booking means of transportation (train tickets, Hot air ballooning, Helicopter rides, Scooters, motorbikes, quads or segways & equivalents…), which might be proposed in order to complement our tour services.
We decline any liability for all changes or possible injuries – accidents that may occur, those services remaining under the provider’s liability.
Personal Wine Shipping Service
A-Lys France is not providing this service at this stage, but might help the customers to arrange such a service thru some shipping organization-companies located in the wine areas…
If you wish to purchase wine while on the tour at any winery, you may ask the winery itself or your driver / guide for some help with no guarantee that there is an option to do so on spot.
You may opt for a contact with an US licensed wine importer, who can make transportation arrangements for your personal wine.
Consigning your purchases at a partner/provider’s place during your tour with us, and waiting for consolidation and transport to the U.S. on a refrigerated container will be under Guest’s responsability. We decline again any responsability for such service.
Travelers Responsabilities
It is your responsibility to make sure that you have a valid passport, and all necessary visas, permits or certificates for each tour taken with A-Lys france.
A-Lys france is not liable for any problems, delays or denied entry in the event that you are not in possession of valid travel documents.
It is your responsibility to arrive on time at the designated meeting and departure locations for all transfer services and tours. You will not be entitled to any refund or reimbursement due to cancellations, extra booking or travel fees, or other expenses incurred as a result of your missing a scheduled meeting or departure. It is your responsibility to check in with the Local Host, and/or Guide at least 10 minutes prior to any specified departure time.
A-Lys France is not liable for any costs of any service that departs or arrives later than the specified time, even if as a result you miss a connecting service or activity.
A-Lys France is not responsible for security of any personal belongings. It is your responsibility to ensure the security of your own belongings.
You acknowledge that A-Lys France shall not be liable for the loss, theft or damage to any of your personal belongings, regardless of the circumstances.
Participants implication
Our tours are physically active. Please note that hotels (booked directly or thru our services) are centrally located for cities & in charming isolated spots for some others, but may provide fewer American-style amenities than U.S. hotels.
By participating in a tour, you assume certain obligations and responsibilities including, but not limited to, the following:
• Carrying or rolling your own luggage for up to 15 minutes over uneven pavement from the bus to the hotel (even if this is one importatn point we try to work on with drivers, concierges & tour guides…)
• Climbing stairs, standing and walking for up to four hours inside and outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Sleeping with street noise and European heat and air conditioning, which may seem weak by US standards.
Our tour guides cannot aid with any of these activities. Tour members requiring help must be accompanied by an able companion who can be entirely responsible for providing any assistance. If during travel, our representatives become concerned that your physical health or mental condition may make it unsafe for you to continue to participate in the planned itinerary, they may ask you to avoid certain activities.
In extreme cases, we or our representatives may ask you to leave the tour. In this case, we will make reasonable attempts to transport you to the appropriate airport or other departure point, but otherwise, you will be responsible for all costs incurred. In either case, there will be no refund of unused services.
You grant us and our representatives permission to discuss your situation, including your physical health or mental condition, and share any information we deem relevant with any travel companion, family member, medical professional, designated emergency contact, or other person we believe would be necessary or appropriate to deal with such concerns, at our sole discretion. We recommend that you carry travel insurance.
Acceptance of Risk, Waiver & Releases
You acknowledge that travel, especially to foreign and remote destinations, may involve some risk to your health and safety. The degree and nature of personal risk involved depends on the tour booked and the location(s) in which a tour operates.
There may be a significant degree of personal risk involved in participating in physical and/or high-risk activities, carriage by watercraft, or traveling to high altitudes, remote locations, or countries with developing infrastructure.
Standards of hygiene, accommodation, and transport in certain destinations we visit are sometimes lower than the standards you may expect in your home country, and there may be a risk of food poisoning, disease, or injury.
By booking with us, you acknowledge that you have considered the potential risks, dangers and challenges, and your own personal capabilities and needs, and you assume responsibility for all such risks. You agree to take all prudent measures in relation to your own safety while traveling, including but not limited to the proper use of safety devices (including seatbelts, harnesses, flotation devices, and helmets) and obeying all posted signs and oral or written warnings regarding health and safety.
In absence of any gross negligence on our part, we and our representatives will not be held liable for any claims or causes of action arising from any losses, damages, injuries, or death resulting from failure to comply with safety instructions or warnings or the risks inherent in travel and participating in adventurous activities included in our itineraries, offered by us or our representatives or otherwise undertaken by you.
By booking with us, you hereby release, waive, discharge and relinquish any action or cause of action and covenant not to sue A-Lys France, its directors, officers, members, agents, servants and employees (the “Releasees”) from all liability to you for any and all loss or damage, and any claim or demand therefor on account of injury or damage to person or property or resulting in death, whether caused by the negligence of any of the Releasees or otherwise.
By booking with us, you hereby agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Releasees and each of them from any loss, liability, damage or cost, including without limitation court costs and attorney’s fees, any Releasee may incur resulting from claims, demands and causes of action of every kind, known or unknown, directly or indirectly arising from any action or proceeding brought by or prosecuted for your benefit and related in any way to any A-Lys France services or any tour, whether caused by the negligence of any of the Releasees or otherwise.
You agree to allow A-Lys France to take photographs and films of you and your party during our tours for the purpose of marketing and social media and you waive any right to further approval the use of such photographs and films as set forth herein.
Such photographs and films may be used by A-Lys France for any business purpose including without limitation, brochures, websites, print media and promotional videos. You hereby consent to the foregoing use by A-Lys France of such images including photographs and films and acknowledge that A-Lys France shall not be obligated to obtain any further consent or provide any payment for any such use.
Emergency medical treatment
Should any medical emergency arise which precludes your ability to consent to emergency treatment when such authorization is required, we or our representatives will endeavor to communicate with your travel companions or previously designated emergency contact to request permission for any necessary treatment. If our representatives believe, at their sole discretion, that time or circumstances do not permit such communication, you authorize our representatives to consent on your behalf to any medical treatment, including all types of medical examinations, diagnoses, medication, treatment, or physician or hospital care, that is deemed advisable by, and is to be rendered under, the supervision of any physician or surgeon. You agree not to hold us or our representatives responsible for actions relating to any such medical or emergency treatment.
It is a requirement and condition of traveling with A-Lys France that you comply with the authority of the Local hosts, Guides, and Authorities of our country.
You acknowledge that any failure to comply with the foregoing authorities that disrupts the safety, enjoyment, or best interests of the group, in the reasonable discretion of A-Lys France, shall entitle A-Lys France, its local hosts, guides to dismiss you from the applicable tour. Any traveler dismissed under such circumstances shall not be eligible for any refund or reimbursements related to such dismissal or any losses or costs related to missed portions of the tour or additional accommodations or travel expenses incurred as a result of such dismissal.
Please be advised that in the current world climate, Covid, Vaccines, Politics, Religion, or any other controversial topics can be highly divisive.
Covid 19 & Force Majeure
We do not accept liability and shall not be responsible to refund or reimburse you for cancelled tours or event or costs resulting from circumstances outside of our control. Such circumstances include (but are not limited to) terrorism, war, natural disasters, epidemics, adverse or inclement weather conditions. Where such circumstances occur, we will endeavor to provide an alternative service or alternative date, provided that such alternatives are subject to increased charges due to increased costs incurred, even if such alternatives are of similar or lesser quality than originally planned.
Without limiting the foregoing, A-Lys France will not be responsible for the costs caused by disruption of the tour caused by Covid 19, whether due to general shutdowns or restrictions or contraction of Covid 19 by any travelers on tour.
However, in the event of disruption A-Lys France staff will assist travelers as best they can in reducing the effect and cost of the disruption.
Cancellations & Changes
In order not to incur penalties for cancellations of bookings, any changes or cancellations must be communicated in writing to A-Lys France at welcome@a-lys-france.com according to the specific cancellation policies below:
Cancellations must be made in writing via email to welcome@a-lys-france.com within the 120 days prior to the day of departure.
The following cancellation policies apply :
Up to 90 days prior to the departure date your deposit is refundable.
From 90 Days Until 30 days before the first day of the event: 20% of the total amount will be kept or paid as penalty
Between 29 and 7 days before the first day of the event: 50% of the total amount will be kept or paid as penalty
Between 7 and 2 Days before the Event, 75% of the amount of the reserved services will be kept or paid as penalty
Less than 2 days before the Event, 100% of the amount of the reserved services will be kept or paid as penalty
Note: The Cancellation schedule runs from the original booking date and is not adjusted for tours that are transferred or rescheduled.Note: The Cancellation schedule runs from the original booking date and is not adjusted for tours that are transferred or rescheduled.
Rescheduling & Transfer Policy
Subject to certain conditions, including the reasonable approval of A-Lys France, you may transfer your tour booking once to another person up to 30 days prior to your tour’s departure date.
All requests to switch your tour’s departure date must be received within 120 days prior to your tour’s original departure date by sending an email to welcome@a-lys-france.com.
Cancellation by the tour company
From time to time, tours do not reach the minimum number of bookings necessary to make the tour viable (concern our shared & special departure tours with specific dates & number of travelers requested).
We reserve the right to cancel or alter a tour in these circumstances. If we cancel the tour or make substantial alterations, we will endeavor to advise you at least 120 days before departure and will offer you alternative dates or a full refund. We reserve the right to make lesser alterations and changes, which will not be deemed a reason for you to cancel.
Lesser alterations and changes will be communicated to you in the updated versions of the tour itinerary up to and including the final itinerary before travel. For the avoidance of doubt, substantial alterations include (but are not limited to) changes to tour dates, quality of hotels and changes to the majority of wineries visited. Lesser changes include (but are not limited to) changes to individual winery visits, substitution of a restaurant or hotel for another of the same standard or small changes to timings of visits.
Travelers with special needs
Obligation of Information from the customer
The customer must inform A-LYS France, in writing and prior to the booking, of any special needs that may concern him or her personally (or any other traveler participating in this trip) likely to have an impact on the travel procedure: needs for special assistance applying to persons with reduced mobility (whether in a wheel chair or not), accompanying animals, oversize luggage etc. (Please note: if the service providers accept a customer accompanied by an animal, the customer must provide an updated international certificate of vaccination). More generally, the customer is obliged to inform the agency in writing of all special requests and needs.
Legal Capacity Minors
Each person purchasing a trip, a travel package, or any other travel service must be at least 18 years of age and legally capable of contracting. Each person entering into an electronic contract with A-LYS France must guarantee the validity of the information provided and is personally liable for each person registered on the same booking form. Accompanied minors must provide the following documents: a national identity card (namely for the member states of the European Union, the Schengen Area and Switzerland), or a passport, or a passport with a valid visa. Please ensure that you are in possession of the mandatory documents for the minor under your care (family register, national identity card or passport).
During the entire trip the minor traveler must carry the contact details of his or her parent(s) or legal guardian (name, address, phone numbers) in order to ensure that the parent(s) or the legal guardian can be contacted directly.
All booking requests for minors traveling non-accompanied by their parent(s) or legal guardian are subject to the prior authorization of A-LYS France and are legally bound to be signed by the father, the mother or the legal guardian bearing the mention “in agreement with the father, the mother or the legal guardian.” Moreover, before entering into the contract, the contact dates of the adult person accompanying the minor during the trip (or if necessary, those of the minor) will have to be communicated to A-LYS France in order to enable it to make direct contact with the minor or the responsible adult, if necessary.
Persons with reduced mobility
Persons with reduced mobility must consult with A-LYS France whether the requested trip is suitable to their situation and special needs, and to ensure that all necessary services are covered by the precontract or the travel contract. The agency will provide detailed information thereof only upon prior and explicit request on the part of the customer.