Terms & Conditions

GENERAL CONDITIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE JOURNEYS

1) TRAVEL AGREEMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITY

Journey agreements relevant to this program, despite any opposing condition, are subject to Law 27.12.77 No. 1084 of ratification and implementation on the International Convention on travel contracts (C.C.V.) signed in Brussels on April 23, 1970, to the Directive 90/314/CEE and to the Government Decree of 17.3.95 No. 111 on the implementation of Directive No. 90/314/CEE relevant to journeys, holidays, and the “all inclusive” chains.

For “all inclusive” tourist packages, the sales agreement is drawn in written form, and the customer shall be issued a copy stamped by Tasting Italy agent (defined as “the agent”).

2) APPLICATION TERMS        

Acceptance of applications on the part of the agent is subject to place availability, and shall be considered concluded upon written confirmation from the customer.

3) PAYMENTS

Upon confirmation of the services, an amount equal to 30% of total price shall be paid by the customer. The balance shall be settled 30 days before arrival inItaly. In case of confirmations carried out  during the 30 days preceding the arrival date, the entire amount shall be paid upon confirmation.

This is a general rule, but exceptions may apply in case any of the suppliers require a different payment policy.

4) VALIDITY OF PARTICIPATION FEES          

Fees are calculated on the basis of exchange rates of the operative carriers. Fees set by the agreement may be modified with possibility of price increase only in case of variation of exchange rates, of carriers fees – including fuel costs, rights and taxes on some services such as: landing taxes, disembarking and boarding taxes in harbors and airports, increase of VAT percentages. Should the increase of the overall price exceed the 10%, the customer is entitled to recede from the agreement with right to refund all the amounts paid by the customer within 7 working days from the date of the recession.

5) AMENDMENTS TO AGREEMENT CONDITIONS    

Before the departure should the agent need to make consistent amendments to one or more elements of the agreement, he shall give immediate written notice to the customer, specifying the kind of amendment and the consequent price variation.

Customers shall communicate their choice to the agent within two working days after receiving the amendment notice; should customers refuse the amendment proposal, they shall be entitled to recede from the agreement without penalty.

After the departure, should essential services provided for by the agreement not be implemented, the agent shall arrange alternative solutions for the continuation of the journey, with no extra charge to the customer; the agent may also reimburse the customer with the difference between the services in the agreement and those actually implemented, unless the damage is indemnified.

6) CUSTOMERS’ RIGHTS IN CASE OF RECESSION OR ANNULMENT OF THE SERVICE    

Should customers exercise the right of recession from the agreement in the cases described in the two previous paragraphs, or should the package be cancelled before the departure for any reason, unless due to the customer, the latter shall have the right to enjoy another package of equal or higher quality with no extra charge, or of lower quality upon refund of the price difference; otherwise, the sum already paid shall be returned to the customer within 7 working days from the date of the recession or cancellation.

In the above-mentioned cases, the customer shall be refunded of all other damage depending on the non implementation of the agreement, unless the annulment of the journey depends on the following:

– failed accomplishment of the minimum number of participants indicated, and the customer has been given written notice at least 20 days before the date of departure.

– unforeseeable or inevitable events.

– force majeure.

7) CANCELLATION POLICY

In case of recession or renouncement for reasons differing from the ones stated above, the customer shall be refunded the cost of the journey after penalties stated as follows:

– Up to 45 days before the departure: 0% (we reserve the right to deduct a cancellation fee covering our labour costs, which will be communicated at the time of cancellation)
– From 44 to 30 days before the departure: 30%
– From 29 to 21 days before the departure: 50%
– From 20 to 15 days before the departure: 70%
– From 14 days before the departure: 100% (no refund)

This is a general rule, but exceptions may apply in case any of the suppliers require a different cancellation policy. Any exception will be communicated in written form at the time of booking.

8) AGREEMENT TRANSFER   

The Traveler may be replaced by a third party complying with all the conditions set for the enjoyment of the service, in relations resulting from the agreement, upon written communication within 10 working days before the departure, specifying the complete details of the third party, provided there are no impediments due to passport, visas, medical certificates, or problems with different accommodation requests.

The transferring party and the concessionary are strictly responsible with the agent for the payment of the outstanding amount, and for the possible extra charges resulting from such transfer.

9) RESPONSIBILITY OF THE AGENT

The agent is responsible for the damages caused to the customer due to total or partial breach of the services set by the agreement, implemented both by the agent itself, and by third suppliers; the agent shall also refund the damage suffered by the customer, unless there is a right to recover the loss from the suppliers. In such case, the agent shall be released from responsibility when the unsuccessful or incorrect implementation of the agreement is chargeable to the customer or to a third party with unforeseeable or inevitable character, in other words in case of fortuitous event or force majeure.

The agent shall guarantee all possible remedy to the customer to allow the continuation of the journey, unless right to recover the damage should the incorrect implementation be chargeable upon the customer.

10) COMPLAINTS

Any failed implementation of the agreement shall be immediately disputed by the customer in order that the agent and its local representatives may remedy to the problem.

Any complaint brought out after customer’s return home will not be considered.

11) ACCOMMODATING FACILITIES AND CARRIERS

The agent takes full responsibility and declares that the selected facilities and carriers have all standard license in compliance with the Italian laws and regulations.

12) OBLIGATIONS TO PARTICIPANTS        

Participants to journeys shall possess individual passport, visas when applicable, or other identification card valid for the Countries included in the itinerary, as provided for in the written information that the agent shall supply prior to the departure.  They shall also comply to the rules or ordinary prudence and accuracy, to all the information supplied by the agent, and to the regulations and administrative or legal dispositions in force inItaly.  Participants shall be responsible for the damages that the agent should face due to their breach of what listed above.

13) PLACE OF JURISDICTION

Any possible dispute shall be solved by the jurisdiction ofFlorence.

14) INSURANCE POLICIES     

Before the departure customers may, and are in fact recommended to, subscribe at home an optional insurance policies covering the expenses incurred for the annulment of the agreement or for repatriation in case of accident or illness.

15) NOTICE: 

” Mandatory notice in compliance with article 16 of the Law August 3, 1998 No. 269 – The Italian Law punishes with imprisonment sentence the crimes relevant to prostitution and juvenile pornography”.