Terms & Conditions

The following terms and conditions are applicable to all tours offered by Bulgaria Wine Tours LTD, a BulgarianWine.net partner company.

Company:  

  • Bulgaria Wine Tours LTD., reg. number: 203257799 (“the Company”), tour operator licence №: PK-01-7373

Bookings

  • Clients may place a booking by telephone, email or web.
  • A booking is accepted by the Company only in writing and when an invoice is issued.
  • All correspondence and relevant documentation will be made and delivered through email and directed to the person responsible for making the booking.
  • The Company reserves the right to not guarantee the booking until the full amount set in the invoice has been received by the Company.
  • The Client bears the responsibility to communicate accurate information to the Company at the time of the booking.

Payment for your tour

  • A deposit of 30% of the total tour cost is required to be paid within 7 days of the proforma invoice issue date.
  • If the tour includes additional services, such as flight tickets, the Company requires 30% deposit plus the cost of the additional services.
  • The balance of the amount due to the company must be paid no later than 45 days before departure.
  • In the event that the Client makes a booking within 45 days of departure of the tour, the full tour price must be paid up-front.
  • Payments can be made by bank transfer.
  • The Company reserves the right to treat a booking as cancelled by the Client in the event of non-payment of the balance by the due date.
  • Payment of deposit or a full payment of a tour or service constitutes consent to all provisions in the Terms and Conditions, as well as to the information provided about the tour or service in question.

Changes made by client

  • Departure dates
      • Request to change departure date must be made in writing by the Client to the Company.
      • The change in departure date is subject to availability.
      • Change in departure date will be confirmed by the Company if possible. Should a booking be transferred to a new departure date, the standard price of the tour on the particular departure date applies.
  • Changes in names on booking or substitution of clients
      • Any changes in names must be made in writing by the Client to the Company at least 45 days prior to departure. The Client bears the responsibility of giving the Company complete and accurate full names (as in passport) of all participants at the time of booking.
      • It is possible to transfer the booking to another person (substitute the person) provided that written notice is given at least 45 days prior to departure.
      • Any changes in names or substitutions submitted less than 45 days prior to departure will be subject to an administrative fee of 25 EUR.
  • Non-consumption of services included in the tour
    • In the event that the Client joins the tour after the departure date, or leaves before the completion of a tour, the Client shall not be entitled to any refunds or rebates from the Company.
    • In the event that the Client intentionally or unintentionally misses or refuses a service (such as a wine tasting) included in the tour, the Client shall not be entitled to any refunds or rebates from the Company.

Cancellations

By client

  • Cancellation of a scheduled tour booking must be made by the Client in writing to the Company.  The cancellation is not effective until it is received and acknowledged by the Company.
  • For cancellations made until 45 days of departure, no cancellation fee will be applied. Deposit will be refunded.
  • For cancellations made between 45 days and 30 days prior to departure or less, the deposit will not be refunded.
  • For cancellations made between 30 days and 14 days before departure, 50% of total cost will be applied as a cancellation fee.
  • For cancellations made less than 14 days before departure, 100% of total cost will be applied as a cancellation fee.
  • Airlines tickets purchased through the Company are non-refundable, non-transferable and non-changeable.

By company

  • The Company reserves the right to, at any time and for any reason, cancel the tour.
  • A cancellation of a tour will be submitted in writing by the Company to the Client.
  • In the event of a cancellation, the Company shall refund the tour price to the Client. The Company is not responsible or liable for any costs incurred as a result of the cancellation nor any other claims arising from a cancellation.
  • If the minimum number of participants for a tour is not reached, the Company retains the right to cancel a tour. The minimum number of participants are listed on www.bulgariawinetours.com for each tour, if applicable.
  • In the event of a force majeure, the Company shall not be liable to pay compensation or refund the cost of the tour. A force majeure is an unusual, unforeseeable or unavoidable circumstance that is beyond the control of the Company and its suppliers. Examples include war, riots, terrorist acts, natural disasters, fires, adverse weather conditions, airport closures, strikes, epidemics or health risks.

Changes made by the Company

  • The Company reserves the right to make changes to the tour. These changes include but are not limited to: travel times; changes in departure or return points; different mode of transportation; change in accommodation; change in itinerary; change in winery; change in guide.
  • All changes will be communicated prior to departure if possible. The Client may decide to accept the change, accept an alternative holiday (which may result in a cost difference) or choose to cancel the booking at which point cancellation conditions will apply.
  • In the case that changes or alternative holidays result in a lower quality tour, the Company shall refund the difference in price to the Client.
  • In the event of a force majeure, the Company shall not be liable to pay compensation or refund the cost of the tour. A force majeure is an unusual, unforeseeable or unavoidable circumstance that is beyond the control of the Company and its suppliers. Examples include war, riots, terrorist acts, natural disasters, fires, adverse weather conditions, airport closures, strikes, epidemics or health risks.

Group Tours

  • Group Tours are scheduled tours with set departure dates subject to a minimum group size.
  • Group tours are only guaranteed to depart if the minimum group size has been obtained. If the minimum group size is not obtained, the Company reserves the right to cancel the tour and refund the tour price to the Client, in which the Client will have no claim for any damages against the Company, including but not limited to purchased flight tickets. The Client may also be offered an alternative tour on an alternative date, or the same tour on an alternative date. If the offer is accepted by the Client, the credit received will be moved to partially cover the price of the alternative tour.
  • All Clients that have booked a Group Tour will be informed of the status of the tour (cancelled due to inefficient demand, guaranteed departure, cancelled/postponed to alternative date).
  • A group tour is subject to same cancellation terms applied to all tours, as seen above.

Surcharges/Extras

  • If the Client chooses to purchase additional services during the tour from a third party supplier, the agreement will be between the Client and the supplier directly. Examples include excursions, additional wine tastings, hotel services etc.
  • For surcharges related to changes in prices, please see ‘Prices’

Travel Insurance

  • It is highly recommended that all tour participants retain a valid travel insurance prior to departure from an insurance company of their choice.
  • It is highly recommended that all tour participants retain a valid medical insurance prior to departure that covers the entire period of travel from an insurance company of their choice.
  • The Company is not liable for any circumstances that may arise before, during or after a tour including but not limited to: discontinuation of the tour due to loss/destruction of passport/travel document; cancellation or discontinuation of the tour due to injury, delay, sickness, accident, death, discomfort or theft; loss or damage to luggage and/or other personal items; refusal of boarding by airlines.

Tour operator liability Insurance

  • The Company has a mandatory tour operator liability insurance.
  • The tour operator liability insurance is provided by Groupama Insurance Company, address: 47A Tsarigradsko shosse Blvd., floor 3, Sofia 1000, Bulgaria.
  • The tour operator liability insurance covers the tour operator’s liabilities arising from non-payment by the tour operator to its suppliers as well as in the event of bankruptcy and liquidation.
  • The tour operator liability insurance covers:
    • refund of the paid amounts by the Client before the start of the tour, if the tour does not take place due to bankruptcy, liquidation or non-payment;
    • in the event when only part of the agreed upon services have been supplied to the Client, payment for the difference between the paid for and supplied services will be refunded;
    • expenses associated with bringing the Client back to his/her original location before the tour

Behaviour

  • The Company reserves the right to refuse a booking or terminate a holiday if the Client acts unreasonably and the Company deems that the Client’s actions or behaviour are likely to cause distress, damage, danger or annoyance to other tour participants, employees, partners and suppliers or to the property of mentioned persons.
    • The Company is not liable for any damages, including damages to infrastructure, caused by the Client’s behaviour or actions.
  • At all times, the Client must respect local, national and international laws.

Illness, disabilities, dietary requirements and allergies

  • The Company will attempt to accommodate requirements pertaining to allergies, dietary requirements, disabilities or medical conditions. The Client must inform the Company of all above ailments in writing and prior to departure.

Complaints

  • Should a problem occur during the tour, please inform the relevant supplier (for example the hotel or restaurant) and the Company by phone, email or in person to the Company representative as soon as possible.
  • Should the problem not be resolved in a satisfactory and timely manner, please write the Company as soon as possible after the end of the tour, but no later than 14 days after the end of the tour at which point no more complaints will be processed.
  • The Company will answer all written complaints by email within 28 days of receiving the complaint.
  • If the Client fails to report a problem or complaint involving a supplier, agent, partner or contractor during the tour, the Company cannot accept any responsibility or liability after the fact as the Company will be deprived of the opportunity to rectify the problem during the tour.

Travel documents & vouchers

  • All travel documents/vouchers are sent electronically by the Company minimum 7 days before departure.
  • The travel documents shall contain information about
    • Issuing Company
    • License number of the Company
    • Names of clients
    • Travel destination(s)
    • Period(s) of stay
    • Mean of transport (land-only)
    • Points, dates and times of departure and return
    • Accommodation: location, category, features, meal plans
    • Itinerary
    • Visits, excursions or other services which are included in the price of the package
    • Special requirements made by the Client which the Company has accepted
    • Paid additional services by the Client
    • Name of Company’s representative who issued the travel documents or vouchers

Contractual terms when booking a tour

  • Payment of deposit or a full payment of a tour or service constitutes consent to all provisions in the Terms and Conditions, as well as to the information provided about the tour or service in question.
  • The purchased tour is not for resale, unless specifically stated so.
  • When booking and purchasing the tour, the Client accepts the Booking Terms and Conditions and the information provided to him/her regarding the tour online, through e-mail or on the phone.
  • When the Client books or purchases a tour, the following terms become part of the tour contract which the Client accepts upon booking:
    • by default, the date of the tour contract is the day of payment of the deposit and the location for the contract is the Company’s address;
    • legal details about the Company provided on its website;
    • type of transportation and transportation services as listed in the tour description;
    • the route and itinerary of the tour as listed in the tour description;
    • locations and types of tourist attractions, if applicable, as listed in the tour description;
    • locations, types, and categories of places of accommodation as listed in the tour description;
    • locations, types, and categories of restaurants and/or included meals as listed in the tour description;
    • other additional services included in the tour description or upon request;
    • special requirements by the Client, requested in writing;
    • the total price of the tour as listed in the tour description;
    • the terms and conditions related to changes in the price;
    • cancellation conditions, including compensation for cancellation when applicable;
    • the minimum number of tour participants as listed in the tour description;
    • the terms and conditions related to complaints.

Wine purchases

  • Wine may be purchased from the individual wineries and transported home as part of checked in luggage. Please check national regulations in your destination country for quantity limitations on import of alcohol for personal use as well as your airline for amount of alcohol allowed in checked in luggage.
  • Clients under 18 may not purchase wine or participate in wine tastings.

Prices

  • The Company reserves the right to revise rates, prices and tariffs for tour packages and ancillary services. All prices quoted or published by the Company are subject to change without notice. Price changes may occur in the event of currency rate fluctuations, government taxes, cost increases in transportation or accommodation etc.
  • For 20 days prior to departure, the price stated in the invoice shall not increase unless in the event of changes in government taxes and/or currency exchanges. The Client will be notified of price increases as soon as possible and given the choice to
    • cancel the tour without penalty OR
    • accept the changes and pay the difference in price
  • If an incorrect price has been offered or published, the Company reserves the right to refuse, amend, or cancel a booking made at an incorrect price.

Your financial protection

  • Connection to the website is encrypted with modern cryptography. The website maintains a valid SSL certificate, issued by RapidSSL CA to ensure data protection when entering personal data, including credit card data.
  • In the case of a refund to a credit card, the refund will be executed up to 5 business days from the date of the refund’s approval and depending on card issuer and type.
  • The Company shall provide sufficient evidence of security for the refund of money paid over and for the repatriation of the consumer in the event of insolvency.