Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions Triptoscana

Triptoscana is the travel agency to discover and experience the authentic Tuscany. Triptoscana mediates in accommodations ranging from agriturismos, B&Bs, hotels and luxury villas. The accommodations were personally visited by Triptoscana in order to inform its customers as well and completely as possible. In addition, Triptoscana organizes unique experiences and complete tours.

Booking Agreement

An agreement is concluded after acceptance by the customer of Triptoscana's offer. This acceptance of the customer can take place in person, by telephone or by email. The customer can also express this acceptance by making a booking via the website.
The moment the customer receives the invoice/booking confirmation by email, Triptoscana and the customer are obliged to perform the contract.
The main booker is jointly and severally liable for all obligations arising from the agreement for the entire travel group.
The right of withdrawal does not apply to the services provided by Triptoscana, such as a booked stay or booked tour.

Booking Agreement - Mediation accommodation

In the case of the mediation of an accommodation, Triptoscana acts as an intermediary between the accommodation and the customer. Therefore, when the customer makes a booking through Triptoscana, the contract that is concluded is ultimately an agreement between the customer and the accommodation.

Travel sum and payments - Mediation accommodation

The travel sum related to an accommodation is stated in the booking agreement with a clear indication of the included and not included costs. In principle, all costs not included in the travel sum must be paid locally on arrival or departure, unless expressly stated and agreed otherwise.
Some properties may ask for a deposit upon arrival. This information is stated on the voucher. The deposit will be returned to the customer on departure, with any deduction for costs of damage or loss to or in the rented property. Triptoscana bears no responsibility for any dispute between the accommodation and the customer regarding the deposit and its refund.
Triptoscana has an agreement with the accommodation that it receives a pre-agreed part of the rent for its services. Triptoscana will charge this amount directly to the customer and will be deducted from the rental price.

Travel sum and payments - Packages incl. tourist services

The travel sum that relates to a package is stated in the booking agreement with a clear statement of the included and not included costs.
At the time of the conclusion of the booking agreement, a deposit of 50% of the travel sum is requested. The second 50% is to be paid 8 weeks before the start of the package tour.
This deposit is increased by the contribution of € 15 for the mandatory STO Garant Guarantee Scheme (see below) as stated in the booking agreement.
Payment must be made within 7 days.
If the customer does not pay on time, the customer is in default. The customer will be notified by Triptoscana of the default by e-mail and requested to make payment immediately. If payment is again not made, Triptoscana considers the booking agreement as canceled and is entitled to charge the cancellation costs due. Payments already made by the customer will be deducted from the cancellation costs.
In order to meet its statutory obligation to provide a guarantee, Triptoscana makes use of the guarantee scheme provided by STO Garant. You can check that this is the case by visiting STO Garant’s website and verifying that the organisation is listed as a participant (www.sto-garant.nl/en/members). You can find all information relating to STO Garant at www.sto-garant.nl/en.
Whether STO Garant's guarantee applies to a particular (travel) offer made by Triptoscana is clearly stated for that offer. The Guarantee Scheme specifies what the guarantee covers and which conditions apply. You can find the Guarantee Scheme on STO Garant's website (www.sto-garant.nl/en/downloads).
If STO Garant's guarantee applies to your booking, you do not pay the booking sum to Triptoscana but instead into the escrow account belonging to Stichting Derdengelden Certo Escrow, a payment services provider registered with De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) and the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). This trust account holds your payment in reserve until the trip booked has come to an end. If services are not supplied (in full and/or on time) due to the financial insolvency of Triptoscana, STO Garant implements the guarantee. The Guarantee Scheme details how you can make a claim under the guarantee in such cases.

Interest and collection costs

In the event of late payment of the payments stated in the booking agreement, the customer owes the statutory interest. The customer is also obliged to reimburse extrajudicial collection costs in accordance with the Dutch Collection Costs Act (WIK) with a minimum of € 40,- increasing to a maximum of € 6,775.

Changes

Any changes to the booking agreement can be requested in advance by email to Triptoscana.
The booking agreement is valid for the number of persons stated herein. Exceeding this number of persons without consultation and permission may result in the booking agreement being dissolved, access to the tour or accommodation being refused or the travel sum increased.
Any costs associated with the change are for the account of the customer.
Triptoscana has the right to charge €50 administration costs to the customer for each change.

Cancellation by customer

The cancellation of a booking agreement must be made by the customer by e-mail and is valid from the next calendar day.

Cancellation costs - Mediation accommodation

The costs for the mediation by Triptoscana of an accommodation are non-refundable.
Since Triptoscana works with many different accommodations, there is no clear guideline to apply in the event of cancellation. The cancellation conditions differ per accommodation and are stated in the offer and the booking agreement.

Cancellation costs - Packages incl. tourist services

The contribution for the STO Garant guarantee scheme is non-refundable due to cancellation by the customer.
Free cancellation by the customer is possible up to 12 weeks before the start of the package.
In case of cancellation by the customer up to 8 weeks before the start of the package, the cancellation costs are 50%.
In case of cancellation afterwards, the cancellation costs amount to 100% of the total travel sum.
In case of too few participants, the package tour may be canceled by Triptoscana. In this case, the entire deposit will be refunded to the customer.

Joint and several liability and information obligation customer

The customer is jointly and severally liable for all persons who are part of the travel group who will also make use of the (travel) services or arrangements offered by Triptoscana. Correspondence will in principle go through the customer.
The customer is obliged to report all facts and circumstances that are relevant to the execution of the booking agreement when placing the booking.
The customer must handle the rented accommodation with due care, leave the rented accommodation neat and tidy and is liable for any damage and loss.

Liability Triptoscana

Triptoscana is responsible for the proper execution of the booking agreement according to the expectations that the customer may reasonably have on the basis of the published and provided information.
Triptoscana does not own the accommodations and acts as an intermediary for the accommodations. Prior to the booking agreement, the customer receives the website of the accommodation itself, on which a description of the accommodation including a list of the facilities and photos of the accommodation can be found. Triptoscana is not liable for the correctness of the website of the accommodation.
Triptoscana accepts no liability for: damage as a result of shortcomings in the execution of the booking agreement on the basis of circumstances attributable to the customer, including damage resulting from the health and physical condition of the customer; damage as a result of circumstances that are not attributable to Triptoscana, or that cannot reasonably be attributed to Triptoscana under the law or the standards applicable in society; damage as a result of acts of war, strikes, political circumstances, mechanical breakdown, natural disasters or other causes involving force majeure and the consequences of which could not reasonably be avoided; loss, theft or damage to property; damage covered by the customer's travel and/or cancellation insurance.

Substitution

A customer can choose to be replaced by another person instead of canceling. The condition for this is that this is reported to Triptoscana in time by e-mail, that the replacement customer accepts the booking conditions in full and the accommodation agrees. The first customer remains jointly and severally liable for the payment of any outstanding travel sums.
Triptoscana has the right to charge €50 administration costs for a substitution.

Arrival and departure

On the day of arrival it is usually possible to arrive between 15:00 and 17:00. On the day of departure, the accommodation must usually be vacated between 09:00 and 10:00. The exact times differ per accommodation and are stated in the booking agreement.
It is the customer's responsibility to arrive or depart within the times stated in the booking agreement.
It is not possible to deviate from this, unless otherwise agreed in advance.
The arrival or departure of the customer outside the times stated in the booking agreement without the permission of the accommodation may result in access to the accommodation being refused or additional costs charged.

Pets

Pets are not allowed without prior written confirmation from Triptoscana or the accommodation.
If permitted, additional costs may be attached to bringing pets and special conditions may be imposed.
Bringing pets is entirely at the customer's own expense and risk.

Insurances

Triptoscana advises at all times to take out a (short-term) cancellation and travel insurance.

Complaints

It is possible that the booked accommodation does not meet the requirements or problems arise. The customer must report these complaints immediately to the accommodation so that it can resolve and/or remedy the complaint. If the handling of the complaint is not resolved satisfactorily, the customer can contact Triptoscana.
If a complaint is only reported after returning home, Triptoscana can no longer process it.
The following situations are not grounds for complaint: presence or bites or stings of insects or animals typical of the environment, loss of power or water supply.
The accommodations offered by Triptoscana are partly historical or characteristic in nature and furnished according to the personal taste of the owner and the local traditions, style and quality. Possible disadvantages arising from the characteristics of such accommodations are not accepted as a reason for a complaint.

Local conditions

Triptoscana bears no responsibility for the following:
The customer should take into account the local climate (sometimes with persistent heat) and the local culture, customs and traditions. In terms of infrastructure (electricity, water supply, coverage for the mobile network and availability and quality of wireless internet), hygiene and style and design of the accommodation, this may differ from what people are used to in the Netherlands. The customer is expected to take this into account.
The swimming pools are in principle always unheated. The opening varies per accommodation and is generally from mid-May to the end of September.
Many of the properties are in rural areas and may only be accessible by unpaved roads.
There is a possibility that the facilities mentioned in the description cannot be used (temporarily). For example, it can happen that the swimming pool, the sports facilities, the restaurant, for whatever reason, are not yet open or closed in the early season or are already closed in the late season. Sometimes accommodations make changes to rates, opening and closing times during the season. In some cases, facilities are leased to third parties.