General terms and conditions of travel and contract
These terms and conditions of contract 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 its own name. For third-party services that we arrange on behalf of others, such as package tours of other coach companies or tour operators, or individual services such as air tickets, travel tickets, hire 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 booking is binding on you. The travel contract between you and us is concluded upon unconditional acceptance of your written, telephone, electronic or in-person booking. If the person making the booking reserves 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 that are merely arranged for you by the tour operator, their own terms and conditions of contract and travel apply.
1.2. Our services are as set out in the description of services in the brochure or in the tour description. Special requests only form part of the contract if they have been confirmed in writing and without reservation by the booking office. Unless otherwise stated in the tour description, services begin at the place of departure for river cruises, rail and coach tours, and at the airport in Switzerland for flight packages and boutique tours.
1.3. Your payment: On receipt of the travel confirmation, a deposit per person is 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 the balance is not paid on time, we are entitled to withdraw from the contract without compensation and to claim the cancellation costs in accordance with section 2.2.
1.3.1. Reka Checks / credit cards: A maximum of 50% of the package, but no more than CHF 500.– per person and trip, may be paid with Reka Checks (excluding day trips and special-offer trips). Tickets for musicals and operas do not count towards the basic price of the package.
1.4. Unless otherwise stated, our prices are per person in Swiss francs, with accommodation in a double room, including applicable VAT and the current airport and security taxes. For price changes, see section 7.
1.4.1. Booking fee: In addition to our package prices, your booking office may charge a booking fee for advice and sales. For VIP Travel-Club members, the booking fee is waived for direct bookings. Club information is available on request.
2. Changes to the booking or cancellation of the trip by the traveller
2.1. Cancellation costs for one-day coach trips: One-day coach trips cannot be cancelled, i.e. in the event of a no-show, the travel price paid will not be refunded. Name changes are possible free of charge. Rebookings to another date are subject to a processing fee of CHF 20.– per booking.
2.1.1. Cancellation costs rustexpress.ch
a) Individuals and groups
up to 7 days before departure CHF 20.- per booking
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 bookings of 20 people or more
Up to 4 days before departure CHF 20.- per booking
1 – 0 days before departure 80% of the travel price
c) Change of date for individual travellers and groups
up to 7 days before departure 0% of the travel price
from 7 days before departure CHF 20.– per booking
d) Hotel bookings: cancellation costs for hotel bookings at 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
2.1.2. Cancellation costs for all other coach tours 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
2.1.3. Cancellation costs for flight packages, river cruises and coach tours 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 section 6
2.1.4 For hotel-only offers, the cancellation conditions advertised in each case or the cancellation conditions of the respective partner apply.
2.1.5 For transport-only and last-minute trips, the cancellation costs amount to 100% from the time of booking. If the cancellation costs of our partners exceed the costs in accordance with 2.2.1 to 2.2.4, the partners’ cancellation costs will be passed on to you.
2.2. The deadlines are calculated from the date on which we or the booking office receive your written notification; if it arrives at a weekend or on a public holiday, the next working day applies.
2.3. Substitute traveller: If you have to cancel the trip, you may nominate a substitute traveller who will take 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 full travel price, the processing fee and any additional costs. A substitute may take over the booking:
a) for trips in Switzerland up to the start of the trip
b) for trips in Europe and in countries without a visa requirement (excl. flight packages) up to 48 hours before the agreed departure
c) for overseas trips, ocean cruises, flight packages and trips to countries with a visa requirement, by arrangement with your travel agency and subject to our organisational capacity (the time needed to obtain visas varies). A further condition is that the companies involved in the trip (hotels, airlines or shipping companies) also accept these changes, which may be difficult, especially in high season, or may be prevented by airfare rules.
2.4. Event tickets
2.4.1. Tickets for events, even if booked as part of a package, cannot be cancelled and are charged in full in the event of rebooking or cancellation, regardless of when this takes place.
2.4.2. If EUROBUS is able to resell event tickets, only the processing fee will be charged. The account is settled after the trip has taken place.
2.4.3. Cancellation costs insurance covers the cost of admission tickets as soon as the booking has been confirmed by us.
3. Insurance
The mandatory insurance cover is not included in our package prices and varies according to the travel price or type of travel. It is only valid if the cancellation is due to illness, accident or death. If you already have your own cancellation costs or repatriation insurance, you may decline this insurance when booking.
4. Entry formalities
Depending on the country, Swiss citizens require a valid identity card, a valid passport or a visa for the trips (any regulations to the contrary can be found in the respective tour description). Citizens of other countries are asked to state their nationality when booking and to 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 accuracy before you depart. If you are refused entry because of incorrect or missing documents, the costs of the return journey shall be borne by you (section 10).
5. Your coach (mostly EUROBUS)
Seats are allocated in the order in which bookings are received 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 partner companies. If, for example, two coaches are used for a trip, the seat allocation may change. All journeys are operated with non-smoking coaches.
6. Flights
All flights are in economy class. We and the airlines involved expressly reserve the right to change flight schedules, to use other aircraft types and to engage 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 checking in at the airport on 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. Any additional costs resulting from missed onward or return flights shall be borne by you. 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, air tickets must be issued at the time of booking. Rebookings, cancellations or name changes 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 the contract: We expressly reserve the right to change brochure information, descriptions of services 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 the contract: In exceptional cases, the agreed price may have to be increased. Price increases may result from the following:
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) government-imposed price increases (e.g. VAT) If the costs of these travel services increase, they may be passed on to you. We will apply any price increase no later than 22 days before the start of the trip. If the price increase amounts to more than 10%, you are entitled to the rights set out in section 7.4.
7.3. Changes to the programme, changes after your booking and before the start of the trip: We reserve the right, also in your interest, to change the travel programme or individual agreed services (such as accommodation, mode of transport, means of transport, airlines, flight times, etc.) if 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., makes this necessary. We endeavour to offer you equivalent alternative 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 travel price is increased or changes are made to the programme or to transport: If the change to the programme or to individual agreed services results in a significant change to an essential element of the contract, or if the price increase amounts to more than 10 per cent, you have the following rights:
a) You may accept the change to the contract;
b) You may withdraw from the contract in writing within 5 days of receiving our notification, and the travel price you have already paid will be refunded to you without delay;
c) Or you may notify us in writing within 5 days of receiving our notification that you wish to take part in an equivalent substitute trip proposed by us. If you do not send us a notification under letter b) or c), you consent to the price increase, the change to the programme or the change to individual agreed services (the 5-day deadline is met if you hand your notification to 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 set out in 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, this period 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. make it considerably more difficult or impossible to carry out the trip safely, we may cancel the trip or parts of it or end it prematurely. In such a case, we will inform you as quickly as possible.
8.3. Chartering: In some cases, our group tours are based on the exclusive hire of means of transport (aircraft, ship). We reserve the right to cancel the trip no later than 90 days before the start of the trip if such a means of transport is chartered out elsewhere.
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, less the expenses in accordance with 8.5 in the event of a cancellation for compelling reasons. 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 the expenses demonstrably incurred, in particular services of our partners that are not refunded.
9. Changes to the programme, non-performance and services during the trip
If changes to the programme have to be made during the trip, we endeavour to offer an equivalent substitute service/alternative. Should the programme be of objectively lower value as a result of the change, we will reimburse you for the difference. If unforeseen necessary changes to the programme lead to additional costs because, through no fault of our own, no equivalent substitute service or equivalent means of return transport is available and the measure is taken in the objective interest of the customer, these additional costs shall be borne by the customer. During the trip, the customer is only entitled to 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 substitute service for good reason.
10. Curtailment of the trip
10.1. Curtailment by the traveller: If you curtail the trip, the travel price cannot be refunded; any additional costs (e.g. return transport) shall be borne by you. If you have to curtail the trip for compelling reasons (illness, accident, etc.), our driver / tour guide will help you organise your return journey. Only if the trip is curtailed for compelling reasons will we reimburse you for those services that are not charged to us (less a reasonable processing fee).
10.2. Curtailment by the tour operator: If we have to curtail the trip, in particular for compelling reasons in accordance with 8.2., any additional costs shall be borne by you, although the services that are not charged to us will be 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 if you suffer damage, you are obliged to report 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 period during the trip. If no remedy is provided, if a remedy is not possible or if it is insufficient, have the driver / tour guide confirm in writing the defects or damage complained of and the lack of a remedy. However, the driver / tour guide is not authorised to acknowledge any claims for damages or the like. If you fail to make the complaint and to obtain the written confirmation, we will no longer be able to deal with your complaints etc. after the end of the trip and you will lose any 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 will be forfeited.
12. Liability of the tour operator
12.1. We will reimburse you for the objective value of agreed services that were not provided or were poorly provided, or of any damage suffered, insofar as it was not possible for the driver / tour guide to provide an equivalent substitute service on the spot, provided that we or our contractual service providers are at fault. The following sections remain reserved.
12.2. Limitations and 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 resulting from non-performance or improper performance of the contract, we are only liable 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 not involved in the contractually agreed service
c) force majeure, natural disasters, unrest, strikes, government measures, epidemics, pandemics or an event which we, the agent 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.: For personal injury, death, bodily injury, etc. resulting from non-performance or improper performance of the contract, we are only liable 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 remain reserved (section 12.2.1). Car parks and multi-storey car parks are used 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 only liable 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, subject to lower liability limits or exclusions of liability in international agreements and national laws (section 12.2.1). Car parks and multi-storey car parks are used 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, photographic and video equipment, etc. Under no circumstances may you leave these items in the unattended coach or anywhere else unsupervised. We accept no liability in the event of theft, loss, damage or misuse.
12.2.6. Coach, train, flight and ship timetables, etc.: Even with careful travel organisation, we cannot guarantee that these timetables will be adhered to. Delays may occur, particularly as a result of heavy traffic, traffic jams, accidents, congested airspace, diversions, delayed border clearance, etc. In all these cases, we accept no liability. We strongly advise you to allow for possible delays when planning your trip.
12.3. Events during the trip
12.3.1. Liability for third-party services: Outside the agreed travel programme, local events or excursions may in some circumstances 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 the proper performance of the contract. We would point out that third-party providers may not observe the safety standards of EUROBUS. 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. Should a participant not meet this requirement, the tour management is entitled to refuse their 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 of the respective country, even if you are travelling with a group.
12.4. Non-contractual liability For damage to property and financial loss, our non-contractual liability is limited to cases of gross negligence or intent.
12.5. Wasted holiday time, loss of holiday enjoyment, etc. Liability for wasted holiday time, loss of holiday enjoyment, frustration damages, etc. is excluded.
13. Data protection
13.1. We require various data from you and your fellow travellers (such as first name and surname, date of birth, address, telephone number, etc.) in order to process the contract correctly. We are subject to the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection. We are obliged to keep your data secure and we store it in Switzerland. Insofar as this is necessary to process the contract, we will pass your data on to the service providers. 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 pass on your data to (foreign) authorities. This applies in particular, but not exclusively, to flights to the USA (Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) or TSA Secure Flight Program), Canada.
13.2. Depending on the services booked, you may provide us with particularly sensitive personal data. For example, a dietary request may in some circumstances allow conclusions to be drawn about religious affiliation. As a rule, such data is passed on to service providers for the proper performance of the contract or may, in certain circumstances, be 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 about our programmes and trips in future. 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 pass on 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.
14. Travel and health
Travelling with EUROBUS requires good mental and physical health. If in doubt, please enquire before or when booking about the health requirements that are essential for the full enjoyment of our trips.
15. Protection of customer funds
The protection of the amounts you have paid in connection with your package holiday is guaranteed in accordance with the new federal law.
16. Travel guarantee
Guaranteed there and back thanks to the statutory guarantee fund of the Swiss travel industry. We are a member.
17. Ombudsman
Before taking legal action, you should contact the independent Ombudsman of the Swiss Travel Industry. The ombudsman endeavours to reach a fair and balanced settlement in 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.
18. The invalidity of individual provisions of the travel contract does not render the entire contract invalid.
19. Applicable law and place of jurisdiction
19.1. Applicable law: The legal relationship between you and us is governed exclusively by Swiss law.
19.2. For actions against the tour operator, Windisch is agreed as the exclusive place of jurisdiction. We may sue the consumer at his or her place of residence or in Windisch.
Version February 2025