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One-Stop Resource for Bike Tours in Europe - and Now Beyond!
Representing Overseas Bike Tour Companies
More Than 200 Tours in 40 Countries
Get our newsletter | Contact Us
Call (877) 462-2423 or (423) 756-8907
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| Type of tour: | Self-guided |
| Level: | Leisurely |
| Duration: | 7 Nights |
| Distance: | 31 Miles/day average |
| Dates: | Self-guided: Saturdays: Apr 7 - Oct 13, 2012 |
| Tour price: | €608 |
| Start city: | Alessandria, Italy |
| End city: | Alessandria, Italy |
Occupying a large area that borders on France and Switzerland, Piedmont is the ancient dominion of the Savoys, the ill-fated royal family who ruled Italy from the Unification in 1870 until abdication in 1946. Piedmont is also a region where food comes first, with a host of specialties in an area which boasts centuries-old culinary traditions and outstanding, top-quality local produce appreciated throughout the world.
Occupying a large area that borders on France and Switzerland, Piedmont is the ancient dominion of the Savoys, the ill-fated royal family who ruled Italy from the Unification in 1870 until abdication in 1946. Piedmont is also a region where food comes first, with a host of specialties in an area which boasts centuries-old culinary traditions and outstanding, top-quality local produce appreciated throughout the world.
Day 1: Alessandria
Individual arrival. Alessandria is a city divided by the river Tanaro. Worth a visit is Piazza della Libertà and Piazza Duomo with its wonderful neoclassical cathedral.
Day 2: Alessandria - Acqui Terme (approx. 34 miles/54 km)
You cycle for a few kilometers along the Strada Franca, an ancient road dating back to 1454. You will pass across smooth hills, woods and small isolated villages where you will be able to taste typical products and excellent local wines (Barbera and Dolcetto d’Aqui among others). Aqui Terme: famous for its spring waters, like the “Bollente” situated in the historical centre.
Overnight in Acqui Terme
Day 3: Acqui Terme – Alba (approx. 34 miles/54 km)
You come across the famous hills of the Langhe , the countryside and the vineyards as well as the splendid small villages of Montabone, Rocchetta Palafea and Canelli. The stage ends in Alba, home of the most precious of the truffles, the Tartufo Bianco, and of the famous “Dolcetto d’Alba”.
Overnight in Alba.
Day 4: Alba – Asti (approx. 25 miles/41 km)
A route through vineyards and along panoramic paths which will eventually take you to Asti in the heart of Monferrato. Do visit the historical centre with its famous towers, the roman monuments and the splendid gothic cathedral.
Overnight in Asti.
Day 5: Asti – (Torino) – Asti (approx. 21 miles/34 km)
Today you have a choice between cycling across the Asti hills and their natural parks and a trip to Torino. You can reach Torino, the first capital of Italy, by train, taking your bike along. It is a city with splendid monuments, tree-lined roads and ancient cafés, which offer a choice of chocolate-based specialties.
Overnight in Asti.
Day 6: Asti – Casale Monferrato (approx. 33 miles/53 km)
Take advantage of the hospitality of the wine cellars and restaurants along the way, which offer excellent vino-gastromomical choices. In Monferrato you will eventually meet the river Po, the longest river in Italy.
Overnight in Casale Monferrato.
Day 7: Casale Monferrato – Alessandria (approx. 29 miles/47 km)Further cycling across green hills and cultivated lands. Passing through the small villages on the right side of the Po river you will return to Alessandria where the tour ends.
Overnight in Alessandria.
Day 8: Alessandria
Departure
Saturdays: Apr 7 - Oct 13, 2012
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Day 1: Hotel Alli Due Buoi Rossi, Alessandria
www.hotelalliduebuoirossi.com
Located near the pedestrian area with shops and landmarks. The hotel contains large comfortable rooms.
Day 2: Hotel Roma Imperiale, Acqui Terme
www.antichedimore.com
The hotel offers classically designed rooms for rest and relaxation.
Day 3: Hotel Langhe, Alba
www.hotellanghe.it
Located down a long private road, you can find Hotel Langhe, with large, bright comfortable rooms.
Day 4: Hotel Salera, Asti
www.hotelsalera.it
Located in a quiet, residential section in the northern section of Asti.
Day 5: Hotel Principe, Casale Monferrato
http://www.hotelprincipe.eu
Centrally located in the historical heart of Casale Monferrato the hotel offers modern comforts amongst the centenarian traditions.
Day 1: Hotel Alli Due Buoi Rossi, Alessandria
www.hotelalliduebuoirossi.com
Located near the pedestrian area with shops and landmarks. The hotel contains large comfortable rooms.
Day 2: Hotel Roma Imperiale, Acqui Terme
www.antichedimore.com
The hotel offers classically designed rooms for rest and relaxation.
Day 3: Hotel Langhe, Alba
www.hotellanghe.it
Located down a long private road, you can find Hotel Langhe, with large, bright comfortable rooms.
Day 4: Hotel Salera, Asti
www.hotelsalera.it
Located in a quiet, residential section in the northern section of Asti.
Day 5: Hotel Principe, Casale Monferrato
http://www.hotelprincipe.eu
Centrally located in the historical heart of Casale Monferrato the hotel offers modern comforts amongst the centenarian traditions.
GPX files for the tour are available from the tour operator for free. (files are compatible with most GPS systems)
GPS systems are not available to rent on this tour.
GPX files for the tour are available from the tour operator for free. (files are compatible with most GPS systems)
GPS systems are not available to rent on this tour.
A tour through the regions of Langhe (hills in the Piedmont dialect) and Monferrato. The daily stages are not very long, from a minimum of 25 miles/40km to a maximum of 34 miles/55 km, with a medium difficulty level. The most hilly section (day 3) allows you to shorten the route by 10 km by taking a train in Neive (approx. 20 min, €5 per person + bike). Train transfers - including optional trip to Torino - are not included in the tour price.
A tour through the regions of Langhe (hills in the Piedmont dialect) and Monferrato. The daily stages are not very long, from a minimum of 25 miles/40km to a maximum of 34 miles/55 km, with a medium difficulty level. The most hilly section (day 3) allows you to shorten the route by 10 km by taking a train in Neive (approx. 20 min, €5 per person + bike). Train transfers - including optional trip to Torino - are not included in the tour price.
Tour start and end:
Nearest Airports:
Nearest Train station:
From airport Torino Caselle (TRN)
The Sadem shuttle bus (www.sadem.it) departs every 30-45 minutes, from 06:05am to 12:05am for Turin Porta Nuova railway station (transfer: 60 min; ticket: 6 euro). From Torino you take a train to Alessandria (transfer: 60 min; ticket: from 10 to 20 euro depending on the type of train)
Tour start and end:
Nearest Airports:
Nearest Train station:
From airport Torino Caselle (TRN)
The Sadem shuttle bus (www.sadem.it) departs every 30-45 minutes, from 06:05am to 12:05am for Turin Porta Nuova railway station (transfer: 60 min; ticket: 6 euro). From Torino you take a train to Alessandria (transfer: 60 min; ticket: from 10 to 20 euro depending on the type of train)
Of all European countries, none draws visitors over and over again like Italy. A peninsula extending into the Mediterranean Sea, Italy consists of 21 diverse regions of rolling hills, vineyards, mountains, lakes, cliffs and islands. Each region has its unique charm, but all share the ‘Italian’ view that life should be taken at a slow pace with time to enjoy conversation, food and drink. Together, Italy’s regions boast the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. Rome, Florence, Venice, Assisi and Pisa are a few of the country's renowned cities along with Italy’s 95,000 monumental churches, 40,000 forts and castles and 5,600 museums and archaeological sites. Whether you ride a gondola through Venice’s Grand Canal, stroll along Lake Como or visit the Coliseum in Rome, the opportunities are endless when visiting Italy.
Of all European countries, none draws visitors over and over again like Italy. A peninsula extending into the Mediterranean Sea, Italy consists of 21 diverse regions of rolling hills, vineyards, mountains, lakes, cliffs and islands. Each region has its unique charm, but all share the ‘Italian’ view that life should be taken at a slow pace with time to enjoy conversation, food and drink. Together, Italy’s regions boast the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. Rome, Florence, Venice, Assisi and Pisa are a few of the country's renowned cities along with Italy’s 95,000 monumental churches, 40,000 forts and castles and 5,600 museums and archaeological sites. Whether you ride a gondola through Venice’s Grand Canal, stroll along Lake Como or visit the Coliseum in Rome, the opportunities are endless when visiting Italy.
We are an Italian tour operator specialized in cycling tours and active journeys. Our headquarters are in Vicenza, a small and fascinating city between Venice and Verona. There are about 25 of us and 3 mechanics working together to make the best bike holiday possible for you.
Our fleet consists of 10 vehicles and 10 trailers which can carry from 30 to 50 bikes each. We have a fleet of about 900 bicycles.
Besides Vicenza our bases in Italy are in South Tyrol, Tuscany, Piedmont, Umbria, Apulia and Sicily. We own the two boats Vita Pugna and Ave Maria which sail between Venice and Mantua.
After many years’ experience in France we have developed a base in Orléans where our bikes and our staff are present. We manage all our tours in the Loire Valley from Orléans. Our second base in France is Provence where we offer the only bike & boat tour in the area.
We are an Italian tour operator specialized in cycling tours and active journeys. Our headquarters are in Vicenza, a small and fascinating city between Venice and Verona. There are about 25 of us and 3 mechanics working together to make the best bike holiday possible for you.
Our fleet consists of 10 vehicles and 10 trailers which can carry from 30 to 50 bikes each. We have a fleet of about 900 bicycles.
Besides Vicenza our bases in Italy are in South Tyrol, Tuscany, Piedmont, Umbria, Apulia and Sicily. We own the two boats Vita Pugna and Ave Maria which sail between Venice and Mantua.
After many years’ experience in France we have developed a base in Orléans where our bikes and our staff are present. We manage all our tours in the Loire Valley from Orléans. Our second base in France is Provence where we offer the only bike & boat tour in the area.
Cancellation Fees
If the customer withdraws from the contract he is anyway obliged to pay the registration fee which is € 30 per person in 2010.
A declaration of withdrawal must be made in writing within the deadline of one working day prior to the booked departure date:
For the Bike & boat tours the following cancellation fees apply:
The same amounts apply to the customer, even if the missed departure is due to the lack or imprecision of the necessary personal documents. No refund is due to whom does not show up at the place of accommodation or in the case of cancellation during the the program stay.
ALTERATION OF THE BOOKING
In case in which the customer asks for any kind of alteration of the already booked tourist package, he is obliged to pay the registration fee which is € 30 per person. A reduction in participants will be considered a cancellation and therefore subject to the cancellation fees as mentioned above. The operator is not obliged to fulfill any customer's alteration request of an already booked tourist package if he is not able to meet the customer's requirements.
ALTERATIONS AFTER DEPARTURE
After departure, should the operator find himself in a position of not being able to offer, for whatever reason, except for a personal reason of the consumer, an essential part of the services included in the contract, he must offer alternative solutions, without additional cost to the price paid by the consumer and in the case that the services offered are of a lower value than those foreseen, must be reimbursed exactly for the difference. In the case that no alternative solution is possible, or rather the solution of the operator is refused by the consumer for justifiable serious reasons, the operator will at no extra cost, provide the consumer with equivalent transport back to the place of departure or to another pre-agreed place. Depending on availability of the means and places available and will compensate the consumer for the difference between the services to be supplied under the contract and those supplied to the moment of the early return.
The consumer who withdraws may transfer his booking to another person upon condition that: a) the operator has been informed in writing at least 4 working days before the established departure date and also at the same time receives communication regarding all the details of the transferee; b) the transferee satisfies all the conditions to benefit from the service (ex. Article 89 Consumer’s Code) and in particular with requisites regarding passports, visas and medical certificates; c) the transferee must reimburse the operator any extra costs that he may incur in order to proceed with the transferral. The amount will be quantified prior to the transferral. The transferor and the transferee shall be jointly and severally liable for the payment of the price of the package and also to the amounts in point c) of the present article
ALTERATIONS OR CANCELLATION OF A TOURIST PACKAGE BEFORE DEPARTURE
Before the departure the operator or vendor who is forced to make significant alterations to one or more elements of the contract must give immediate notification in writing to the consumer indicating the type of alteration and the consequent variation in price. If the alteration proposal is not accepted under comma 1, the consumer can reserve the right to reclaim the amount already paid or receive an alternative tourist package in accordance with commas 2 and 3 of article 8. The consumer maintains the above rights also when cancellation is due to insufficient number of participants required as stated in the Catalogue or in the separate program, or due to force major and accidental cause, regarding the tourist package purchased. For cancellations which are not caused by force major or accidental cause or by insufficient number of participants, or reasons which are different from those of the non acceptance by the consumer of the alternative tourist package offered, the operator who cancels (art. 33 letter e Consumer’s Code) will reimburse the consumer double what was paid to and received by the operator, via the travel agent. The amount to be reimbursed can never be more than double the amount of which the consumer at that same date owes according to art. 8, comma 4 in the case it is he who cancels.
INTRODUCTION. NOTION OF TOURIST PACKAGE____
Considering that:
a) the operator and vendor of tourist packages, to whom the consumer makes a request, must be in possession of the administrative authorization in order to carry out their activity.
b) the consumer has the right to receive a copy of the sales of tourist package contract (under article 85 of the Consumer’s Code) an indispensable document to receive National Guarantee Fund.
The definition of tourist package (article 84 Consumer’s Code) is as follows: tourist packages mean travel, holidays and “all inclusive” with the pre-arranged combination of at least two of the following components when sold or offered for sale at an inclusive price and when the service covers a period of more than twenty-four hours or includes at least one overnight accommodation:
(a) transport;
(b) accommodation;
(c) other tourist services not ancillary to transport or accommodation (omissions) ... and accounting for a significant proportion of the “tourist package”.
LEGISLATIVE SOURCES
The purchase of a tourist package, either with services offered on national territory or abroad will be governed by the Italian Law 27/12/1977 n°1084 in ratification and implementation of the International Convention on Travel Contracts (CCV) regarding travel contracts signed in Brussels on 23.04.1970 and also by Consumer’s Code.
OBLIGATORY INFORMATION – TECHNICAL BRIEF
The operator is obliged to provide either within the catalogue or separately to it a technical brief. The details that must be included in the technical brief within the catalogue or separately to it are: - details regarding the operator’s administrative authorization; - details regarding the operator’s civil responsibility insurance policy; - period of validity of the catalogue or programs separate to the catalogue or made to measure travel; - methods and conditions for transferral (Art.89 of Consumer’s Code); - exchange rate used in the case of currency adjustments, days or value.
BOOKINGS
Reservation requests must be made on the appropriate contractual form, if electronic, filled in entirely and signed by the client, who will receive a copy. Acceptance for the booking will be complete, with subsequent conclusion of the contract, only once the operator has sent confirmation, even by telematic means, to the client via the travel agency. Indications regarding the package that are not contained in the contractual documents, brochures or in other written means, will be provided in good time before the start of the journey by the operator in accordance with his obligations under art, 87 comma 2 of the Consumer’s Code.
PAYMENT
A deposit of 25% of the price of the tourist package is to be paid at the moment of booking. The deposit must be done no less than 30 days preceding the intended departure date. In case of reservation after the above mentioned date the payment will be in its total in the act of reserving the package. Failure to pay the sums indicated above by the established date constitutes an express termination clause such as to determine rightful termination by the intermediary agency and/or the operator.
PRICE
The price of the tourist package is determined in the contract, and refers to the price indicated in the catalogue or in the separate programs which have been added subsequently. The contract provides that price revisions can be made up to 20 days before the established departure date and solely to allow for variations in: - transportation costs, including the cost of fuel; - dues, taxes or fees chargeable for certain tourist services such as landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports and airports; - the exchange rates applied to the package in question. For these variations reference will be made to the exchange rate and costs mentioned above in effect on the date of publication of the program as printed in the technical brief of the catalogue or on the date mentioned in the above mentioned adjustments.
OBLIGATIONS FOR THE PARTICIPANTS
The participants must be in possession of a personal passport or some other document valid for travel in the countries to be visited, as well as any tourist and transit visas and health certification that might be required. They must also respect the normal rules of prudence and diligence, all information provided to them by the operator and also any regulations and administrative or legislative requirements regarding their travel and tourist package. The participants will be liable for all and any damages that may be incurred by the holiday operator that may be caused by their failure to respect the above conditions. Travelers must provide the operator with all documents, information and other elements in their possession required for the exercise of operator’s right of subrogation with regard to third parties responsible for damages. The traveller is liable towards the operator for any compromise to the right of subrogation. The consumer must also inform the operator in writing, at the moment of booking, of any special personal requests that may be the subject of specific agreements on details of the holiday, as long as these requests are possible to implement
HOTEL CLASSIFICATION
The official category of hotels is described in the catalogue or with alternative informative material only on the basis of explicit and formal indications by the competent authorities in the country where the service is provided. In the absence of official recognized classification of the competent Public Authorities of the countries, even if members of the EU, the operator reserves the right to their own description in the catalogue or brochure of the structure in order to permit an evaluation and subsequent acceptance of it from the consumer.
REGIME OF RESPONSIBILITY
The operator is responsible for damage caused to the consumer by the total or partial breach of contractual services owed, whether they are offered by him or by third party suppliers of services, unless proof can be given that the event derived from the consumer (also including initiatives carried out by him in the course of duty in offering tourist services) or by external circumstances in supplying contractual services, accidental cause, force major, or from circumstances that the operator could not, professionally or realistically foresee or resolve. The vendor where the booking for the tourist package was made is not held responsible under any circumstances for obligations that arise from the organization of the journey, but is responsible exclusively for the obligations that arise from the quality of mediation and therefore in the limits for such responsibility in respect of the legal obligations in force.
LIMITS FOR COMPENSATION
Compensation for damages to a person cannot in any event be superior to the limits regulated by international conventions to which Italy and European Union take part regarding the breach of services. In any case the compensation limit cannot exceed 50.0000 Germinal Gold Francs for damage to people, 2.000 Germinal Gold Francs for damage to things, 5.000 Germinal Gold Francs for any other damage (article 13 n°2 CCV)
OBLIGATION FOR ASSISTANCE
The operator must give assistance to the consumer with professional diligence and exclusively with reference to the obligations cited both by law and by contract. The operator and the vendor are exonerated from each others responsibility (articles 13 and 14 of these General Conditions) when the contract cannot be carried out in part or completely due to the consumer or is due to an unforeseeable or inevitable action by a third party, or rather fortuitous or by force major.
COMPLAINTS AND REPORTS
Any failure in the enforcement of the contract must be contested by the consumer without delay so that the operator, his local representative or assistant can rectify the situation as quickly as possible. The consumer must - on penalty of loss of any right to claims – make a written complaint by registered letter, with receipt of delivery, to the operator or the vendor no later than 10 working days after the date of return to the original place of departure.
NATIONAL GUARANTEE FUND
The Presidency of the Council of Ministers has constituted a National Guarantee Fund to which consumers may apply (under the terms of Art. 100 of the Consumers’ Code) in the case of insolvency or bankruptcy of vendors or operators, for the protection of the following rights: a) reimbursement of price paid; b) repatriation in case of holidays abroad. The fund must also ensure immediate availability of economic assistance in the case of obligatory return of holiday makers from non-European Union countries due to emergencies ascribable or otherwise to the conduct of the operator. The details of the use of the fund are governed by Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers dated 23 July 1999. no. 349 G.U.n° 249 dated 12/10/1999.
ADDENDUM GENERAL CONDITIONS FOR CONTRACTS - SALE OF SINGLE TOURIST SERVICES
A) LEGISLATION Contracts regarding the sale of single services (accommodation, transport, any separate tourist service) and those therefore that do not regard a tourist package, are governed by Travel Contracts CCV art. 1, 3 and 6, arts. 17 to 23 and arts. 24 to 31 with the exclusion of references regarding contracts for organized travel or from other specific stipulations referring to the sale of single services in the contract.
B) CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT The following clauses or conditions of the general contractual conditions can be applied to these above mentioned contracts art. 4 comma 1; art. 5; art. 7; arts.8 and 9; art 10 comma 1; art. 11; art. 15 and art. 17. The application of these clauses renders these contracts absolutely and without question those of a tourist package. The terms used in said clauses regarding contract for tourist packages (operator, travel etc) must be considered in reference to corresponding figures in single tourist service contracts (vendor, accommodation etc.)
COMPULSORY NOTE
According to the Italian Law n.269 dated 3/10/98, article 16. The Italian Law punishes the crimes concerning prostitution and juvenile pornography by means of reclusion. PRIVACY Information regarding ex art. 13 of the Legislative Decree 193/03 (legal code regarding personal data) The processing of personal data is carried out both on paper and digitally, in compliance with the Legislative Decree 196/2003 for use exclusively to conclude the contract and for the implementation of the services that constitute the tourist package. It is necessary to communicate this personal data. Personal data will not be diffused, but given solely to the suppliers of the services included in the tourist package purchased. The consumer may at any time exert their rights under art. 7 of the Legislative Decree 196/03 by contacting GIROLIBERO, info@girolibero.com, titolare del trattamento.
TECHNICAL DATA
Technical organisation: Girolibero of Zeppelin Società Cooperativa, TRAVEL AGENCY & TOUR OPERATOR in Vicenza, Contrà Manin 14, fiscal code 02941250249, registered to n° 286165/01 Register of Companies of Vicenza, in conformity with Aut. Amm, of the province of Vicenza Decree n° 618 dated 26.03.2002.
Insurance guarantee: Navale Insurance SpA, n° 4151001/A Insurance Policy with the company MONDIAL ASSISTANCE ITALIA SpA The printing ends in December 2009, changes might appear beyond our control. We apologize for any printing errors or omissions.
Cancellation Fees
If the customer withdraws from the contract he is anyway obliged to pay the registration fee which is € 30 per person in 2010.
A declaration of withdrawal must be made in writing within the deadline of one working day prior to the booked departure date:
For the Bike & boat tours the following cancellation fees apply:
The same amounts apply to the customer, even if the missed departure is due to the lack or imprecision of the necessary personal documents. No refund is due to whom does not show up at the place of accommodation or in the case of cancellation during the the program stay.
ALTERATION OF THE BOOKING
In case in which the customer asks for any kind of alteration of the already booked tourist package, he is obliged to pay the registration fee which is € 30 per person. A reduction in participants will be considered a cancellation and therefore subject to the cancellation fees as mentioned above. The operator is not obliged to fulfill any customer's alteration request of an already booked tourist package if he is not able to meet the customer's requirements.
ALTERATIONS AFTER DEPARTURE
After departure, should the operator find himself in a position of not being able to offer, for whatever reason, except for a personal reason of the consumer, an essential part of the services included in the contract, he must offer alternative solutions, without additional cost to the price paid by the consumer and in the case that the services offered are of a lower value than those foreseen, must be reimbursed exactly for the difference. In the case that no alternative solution is possible, or rather the solution of the operator is refused by the consumer for justifiable serious reasons, the operator will at no extra cost, provide the consumer with equivalent transport back to the place of departure or to another pre-agreed place. Depending on availability of the means and places available and will compensate the consumer for the difference between the services to be supplied under the contract and those supplied to the moment of the early return.
The consumer who withdraws may transfer his booking to another person upon condition that: a) the operator has been informed in writing at least 4 working days before the established departure date and also at the same time receives communication regarding all the details of the transferee; b) the transferee satisfies all the conditions to benefit from the service (ex. Article 89 Consumer’s Code) and in particular with requisites regarding passports, visas and medical certificates; c) the transferee must reimburse the operator any extra costs that he may incur in order to proceed with the transferral. The amount will be quantified prior to the transferral. The transferor and the transferee shall be jointly and severally liable for the payment of the price of the package and also to the amounts in point c) of the present article
ALTERATIONS OR CANCELLATION OF A TOURIST PACKAGE BEFORE DEPARTURE
Before the departure the operator or vendor who is forced to make significant alterations to one or more elements of the contract must give immediate notification in writing to the consumer indicating the type of alteration and the consequent variation in price. If the alteration proposal is not accepted under comma 1, the consumer can reserve the right to reclaim the amount already paid or receive an alternative tourist package in accordance with commas 2 and 3 of article 8. The consumer maintains the above rights also when cancellation is due to insufficient number of participants required as stated in the Catalogue or in the separate program, or due to force major and accidental cause, regarding the tourist package purchased. For cancellations which are not caused by force major or accidental cause or by insufficient number of participants, or reasons which are different from those of the non acceptance by the consumer of the alternative tourist package offered, the operator who cancels (art. 33 letter e Consumer’s Code) will reimburse the consumer double what was paid to and received by the operator, via the travel agent. The amount to be reimbursed can never be more than double the amount of which the consumer at that same date owes according to art. 8, comma 4 in the case it is he who cancels.
INTRODUCTION. NOTION OF TOURIST PACKAGE____
Considering that:
a) the operator and vendor of tourist packages, to whom the consumer makes a request, must be in possession of the administrative authorization in order to carry out their activity.
b) the consumer has the right to receive a copy of the sales of tourist package contract (under article 85 of the Consumer’s Code) an indispensable document to receive National Guarantee Fund.
The definition of tourist package (article 84 Consumer’s Code) is as follows: tourist packages mean travel, holidays and “all inclusive” with the pre-arranged combination of at least two of the following components when sold or offered for sale at an inclusive price and when the service covers a period of more than twenty-four hours or includes at least one overnight accommodation:
(a) transport;
(b) accommodation;
(c) other tourist services not ancillary to transport or accommodation (omissions) ... and accounting for a significant proportion of the “tourist package”.
LEGISLATIVE SOURCES
The purchase of a tourist package, either with services offered on national territory or abroad will be governed by the Italian Law 27/12/1977 n°1084 in ratification and implementation of the International Convention on Travel Contracts (CCV) regarding travel contracts signed in Brussels on 23.04.1970 and also by Consumer’s Code.
OBLIGATORY INFORMATION – TECHNICAL BRIEF
The operator is obliged to provide either within the catalogue or separately to it a technical brief. The details that must be included in the technical brief within the catalogue or separately to it are: - details regarding the operator’s administrative authorization; - details regarding the operator’s civil responsibility insurance policy; - period of validity of the catalogue or programs separate to the catalogue or made to measure travel; - methods and conditions for transferral (Art.89 of Consumer’s Code); - exchange rate used in the case of currency adjustments, days or value.
BOOKINGS
Reservation requests must be made on the appropriate contractual form, if electronic, filled in entirely and signed by the client, who will receive a copy. Acceptance for the booking will be complete, with subsequent conclusion of the contract, only once the operator has sent confirmation, even by telematic means, to the client via the travel agency. Indications regarding the package that are not contained in the contractual documents, brochures or in other written means, will be provided in good time before the start of the journey by the operator in accordance with his obligations under art, 87 comma 2 of the Consumer’s Code.
PAYMENT
A deposit of 25% of the price of the tourist package is to be paid at the moment of booking. The deposit must be done no less than 30 days preceding the intended departure date. In case of reservation after the above mentioned date the payment will be in its total in the act of reserving the package. Failure to pay the sums indicated above by the established date constitutes an express termination clause such as to determine rightful termination by the intermediary agency and/or the operator.
PRICE
The price of the tourist package is determined in the contract, and refers to the price indicated in the catalogue or in the separate programs which have been added subsequently. The contract provides that price revisions can be made up to 20 days before the established departure date and solely to allow for variations in: - transportation costs, including the cost of fuel; - dues, taxes or fees chargeable for certain tourist services such as landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports and airports; - the exchange rates applied to the package in question. For these variations reference will be made to the exchange rate and costs mentioned above in effect on the date of publication of the program as printed in the technical brief of the catalogue or on the date mentioned in the above mentioned adjustments.
OBLIGATIONS FOR THE PARTICIPANTS
The participants must be in possession of a personal passport or some other document valid for travel in the countries to be visited, as well as any tourist and transit visas and health certification that might be required. They must also respect the normal rules of prudence and diligence, all information provided to them by the operator and also any regulations and administrative or legislative requirements regarding their travel and tourist package. The participants will be liable for all and any damages that may be incurred by the holiday operator that may be caused by their failure to respect the above conditions. Travelers must provide the operator with all documents, information and other elements in their possession required for the exercise of operator’s right of subrogation with regard to third parties responsible for damages. The traveller is liable towards the operator for any compromise to the right of subrogation. The consumer must also inform the operator in writing, at the moment of booking, of any special personal requests that may be the subject of specific agreements on details of the holiday, as long as these requests are possible to implement
HOTEL CLASSIFICATION
The official category of hotels is described in the catalogue or with alternative informative material only on the basis of explicit and formal indications by the competent authorities in the country where the service is provided. In the absence of official recognized classification of the competent Public Authorities of the countries, even if members of the EU, the operator reserves the right to their own description in the catalogue or brochure of the structure in order to permit an evaluation and subsequent acceptance of it from the consumer.
REGIME OF RESPONSIBILITY
The operator is responsible for damage caused to the consumer by the total or partial breach of contractual services owed, whether they are offered by him or by third party suppliers of services, unless proof can be given that the event derived from the consumer (also including initiatives carried out by him in the course of duty in offering tourist services) or by external circumstances in supplying contractual services, accidental cause, force major, or from circumstances that the operator could not, professionally or realistically foresee or resolve. The vendor where the booking for the tourist package was made is not held responsible under any circumstances for obligations that arise from the organization of the journey, but is responsible exclusively for the obligations that arise from the quality of mediation and therefore in the limits for such responsibility in respect of the legal obligations in force.
LIMITS FOR COMPENSATION
Compensation for damages to a person cannot in any event be superior to the limits regulated by international conventions to which Italy and European Union take part regarding the breach of services. In any case the compensation limit cannot exceed 50.0000 Germinal Gold Francs for damage to people, 2.000 Germinal Gold Francs for damage to things, 5.000 Germinal Gold Francs for any other damage (article 13 n°2 CCV)
OBLIGATION FOR ASSISTANCE
The operator must give assistance to the consumer with professional diligence and exclusively with reference to the obligations cited both by law and by contract. The operator and the vendor are exonerated from each others responsibility (articles 13 and 14 of these General Conditions) when the contract cannot be carried out in part or completely due to the consumer or is due to an unforeseeable or inevitable action by a third party, or rather fortuitous or by force major.
COMPLAINTS AND REPORTS
Any failure in the enforcement of the contract must be contested by the consumer without delay so that the operator, his local representative or assistant can rectify the situation as quickly as possible. The consumer must - on penalty of loss of any right to claims – make a written complaint by registered letter, with receipt of delivery, to the operator or the vendor no later than 10 working days after the date of return to the original place of departure.
NATIONAL GUARANTEE FUND
The Presidency of the Council of Ministers has constituted a National Guarantee Fund to which consumers may apply (under the terms of Art. 100 of the Consumers’ Code) in the case of insolvency or bankruptcy of vendors or operators, for the protection of the following rights: a) reimbursement of price paid; b) repatriation in case of holidays abroad. The fund must also ensure immediate availability of economic assistance in the case of obligatory return of holiday makers from non-European Union countries due to emergencies ascribable or otherwise to the conduct of the operator. The details of the use of the fund are governed by Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers dated 23 July 1999. no. 349 G.U.n° 249 dated 12/10/1999.
ADDENDUM GENERAL CONDITIONS FOR CONTRACTS - SALE OF SINGLE TOURIST SERVICES
A) LEGISLATION Contracts regarding the sale of single services (accommodation, transport, any separate tourist service) and those therefore that do not regard a tourist package, are governed by Travel Contracts CCV art. 1, 3 and 6, arts. 17 to 23 and arts. 24 to 31 with the exclusion of references regarding contracts for organized travel or from other specific stipulations referring to the sale of single services in the contract.
B) CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT The following clauses or conditions of the general contractual conditions can be applied to these above mentioned contracts art. 4 comma 1; art. 5; art. 7; arts.8 and 9; art 10 comma 1; art. 11; art. 15 and art. 17. The application of these clauses renders these contracts absolutely and without question those of a tourist package. The terms used in said clauses regarding contract for tourist packages (operator, travel etc) must be considered in reference to corresponding figures in single tourist service contracts (vendor, accommodation etc.)
COMPULSORY NOTE
According to the Italian Law n.269 dated 3/10/98, article 16. The Italian Law punishes the crimes concerning prostitution and juvenile pornography by means of reclusion. PRIVACY Information regarding ex art. 13 of the Legislative Decree 193/03 (legal code regarding personal data) The processing of personal data is carried out both on paper and digitally, in compliance with the Legislative Decree 196/2003 for use exclusively to conclude the contract and for the implementation of the services that constitute the tourist package. It is necessary to communicate this personal data. Personal data will not be diffused, but given solely to the suppliers of the services included in the tourist package purchased. The consumer may at any time exert their rights under art. 7 of the Legislative Decree 196/03 by contacting GIROLIBERO, info@girolibero.com, titolare del trattamento.
TECHNICAL DATA
Technical organisation: Girolibero of Zeppelin Società Cooperativa, TRAVEL AGENCY & TOUR OPERATOR in Vicenza, Contrà Manin 14, fiscal code 02941250249, registered to n° 286165/01 Register of Companies of Vicenza, in conformity with Aut. Amm, of the province of Vicenza Decree n° 618 dated 26.03.2002.
Insurance guarantee: Navale Insurance SpA, n° 4151001/A Insurance Policy with the company MONDIAL ASSISTANCE ITALIA SpA The printing ends in December 2009, changes might appear beyond our control. We apologize for any printing errors or omissions.
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