General Sales Conditions for individuals 2023
General conditions of use of the "pre-checkin"
Special conditions for group holidays in France 2023
Special conditions for group holidays in France 2024
General Sales Conditions for individuals 2023
PREAMBULE
The purpose of these general conditions of sale (hereinafter "CGS") is to set out the respective obligations of the company DIFFUSION TOURISME (hereinafter "VACANCES BLEUES") in its capacity as retailer (hereinafter "VB") and of the Holidaymaker (hereinafter "Holidaymaker"). Signing up for a trip and/or holiday offered by VB (hereinafter "Trip") implies that the Holidaymaker unreservedly agrees to the following general conditions. These terms and conditions have been drawn up in accordance with articles L.211-1 et seq. and R.211-1 et seq. of the French Tourism Code, which set out the terms and conditions of activities relating to the organisation and sale of travel or tourist packages. These GCS apply to all bookings made from 1 January 2023. Contracts entered into prior to this date will continue to be governed by the previous GCS, which can be found in previous editions of the brochure and on this website. The CGS may be amended at any time without prior notice. Changes shall be effective immediately upon posting but shall only apply to bookings made after the posting of the changes. The Holidaymaker acknowledges that he/she is of legal age and is not under guardianship. The Holidaymaker acts both on his/her own behalf and on behalf of the persons associated with his/her booking; he/she guarantees that he/she is legally authorised to exercise this right and guarantees the accuracy of the information he/she provides and commits himself/herself personally for the persons registered on the same file.
SUMMARY OF TRAVELLERS' RIGHTS
(Articles L. 211-8, 211-1-2 and 211-4 of the Code of Tourism)
VB recommends that, prior to any registration, you read the following information forms provided for in the Tourism Code:
Namely, when purchasing a tourist package:
The travel service mix offered is a package as defined in Directive (EU) 2015/2302 and in Article L.211-2 II of the Tourism Code. Therefore, you will be entitled to all rights granted by the European Union applicable to packages, as transposed in the Tourism Code. VB and its organising partners will be fully responsible for the proper execution of the package as a whole. In addition, VB has the legal protection to refund payments and, if transport is included in the package, to ensure your repatriation in the event of insolvency, as required by law.
Fundamental rights under Directive (EU) 2015/2302 transposed into the Tourism Code:
Both the organiser and the retailer are responsible for the proper performance of all travel services included in the contract. Travellers are given an emergency telephone number or contact details to reach the organiser or retailer.
Travellers may assign their package to another person with reasonable notice and possibly subject to an additional charge.
The price of the package may only be increased if specific costs increase (e.g. fuel prices) and if this possibility is explicitly provided for in the contract and may in any case not be changed less than twenty days before the start of the package.
Should the price increase exceed 8% of the package price, the traveller may rescind the contract.
In case the organiser reserves the right to increase the price, the traveller is entitled to a price reduction in the event of a reduction in the related costs.
Travellers may withdraw from the contract without paying any withdrawal fee and receive a full refund of the payments made if any of the essential elements of the package other than the price undergo a significant change. In case the professional responsible for the package cancels the tour prior to its commencement, travellers are entitled to a refund and, if applicable, compensation.
Travellers may cancel the contract without paying a cancellation fee prior to the start of the package in the event of exceptional circumstances, e.g. serious security issues arising at the destination which may impact the package.
Furthermore, travellers may cancel the contract at any time before the start of the package by paying an appropriate and justifiable cancellation fee.
If important elements of the package cannot be provided as planned after the start of the package, the traveller must be offered other suitable services at no extra cost. Travellers may withdraw from the contract free of charge when the services are not rendered as stipulated in the contract and this significantly affects the performance of the tour package and the tour operator does not remedy the problem.
The traveller is also entitled to a discount and/or compensation for non-performance or inadequate travel services.
The organiser or retailer must provide assistance if the traveller experiences difficulties.
Should the organiser or retailer become insolvent, the sums paid will be refunded. If the organiser or retailer becomes insolvent after the start of the package and if transport is included in the package, the repatriation of the travellers is guaranteed. VACANCES BLEUES has taken out insolvency protection with UNAT. Travellers can contact this entity (8 rue César Franck - 75010 Paris) if they are refused services due to the insolvency of VACANCES BLEUES..
Note for the purchase of a travel service (hotel or dry hire services):
You benefit from the rights granted by the Tourism Code when you purchase a travel service. The organiser and the retail travel agent will be fully responsible for the proper execution of the travel service.
In addition, as required by law, the tour operator and retail travel agent have protection to refund your payments in the event that they become insolvent.
Fundamental rights under the Tourism Code:
Travellers will be provided with all essential information regarding the travel service before concluding the travel contract. Both the service provider and the retailer are responsible for the proper execution of the travel service. Travellers will be provided with an emergency telephone number or contact details to reach the service provider or retailer.
Travellers may transfer their travel service to another person with reasonable notice and possibly subject to an additional charge. The price of the travel service may only be increased if specific costs increase and if this possibility is explicitly provided for in the contract and may in any case not be changed less than twenty days before the start of the journey. In case the price increase exceeds 8% of the price of the travel service, the traveller can withdraw from the contract. If the service provider reserves the right to increase the price, the traveller is entitled to a price reduction in the event of a reduction in the related costs.
Travellers may withdraw from the contract without paying withdrawal costs and receive a full refund of payments made if any essential element of the contract, other than the price, is significantly changed. If the professional responsible for the service cancels it before the start of the service, the travellers can obtain a refund and compensation if necessary.
Travellers can cancel the contract without paying a cancellation fee before the start of the service in case of exceptional circumstances, for example if there are serious safety problems at the destination that could affect the trip.
In addition, travellers may withdraw from the contract at any time before the start of the journey, subject to payment of reasonable and justifiable withdrawal costs.
If, after the start of the trip, important elements of the trip cannot be provided as planned, the traveller must be offered other appropriate services at no extra cost. Travellers may withdraw from the contract without paying a withdrawal fee if the services are not performed in accordance with the contract and this significantly disrupts the performance of the trip and the service provider does not remedy the problem.
Travellers are also entitled to a price reduction and/or compensation in the event of non-performance or poor performance of the travel service.
The service provider or retailer must provide assistance if the traveller is in difficulty. If the service provider or retailer becomes insolvent, the amounts paid will be refunded. VACANCES BLEUES has taken out insolvency protection with UNAT. Travellers can contact this entity (8 rue César Franck - 75010 Paris) if they are refused services due to the insolvency of VACANCES BLEUES.
GENERAL CONDITIONS OF SALE
Art. 1 • PRE-CONTRACTUAL INFORMATION
Pursuant to articles L. 211-8 and R. 211-4 of the Tourism Code, the pre-contractual information referred to in these articles includes (i) the description of each trip or stay in the PRO BTP VACANCES® catalogues in force at the time of the reservation and/or on the Site, (ii) the other elements of information appearing on the WebSite, (iii) these General Sales Conditions and, where applicable, the Special Sales Conditions, (iv) the standard information forms summarising the rights of the traveller and the preliminary offer/sales contract summarising the reservation.
In accordance with article L211-9 of the Tourism Code, VB expressly reserves the right to modify, notably by means of erratum, the information on the website and in the description sheets, in particular with regard to the price and content of the transport and accommodation Services, the minimum number of persons required for the trip, the identity of the carrier, the itineraries of the tours and the opening and closing dates of the hotels.
Art. 2 • OPTION – BOOKING
Trip reservations can be made by calling our call centre on +33 04 91 00 96 48, on our website or directly with the establishment for a stay in France. The Holidaymaker must confirm his/her reservation before the end date of the option by sending the payment of the deposit or by communicating a credit card number under the conditions defined in article 6. Upon receipt of the deposit, VB will send a booking confirmation by email.
This booking confirmation forms the contract of sale between VB and the Holidaymaker. To this end, the Holidaymaker agrees to the use of e-mail for the conclusion of the contract or for the transmission of information relating to the execution of the contract in accordance with article 1369-2 of the civil code.
Art. 3 • NO RIGHT OF WITHDRAWAL
The Holidaymaker is reminded in accordance with article L. 121-20-4 of the Consumer Code that he does not have the right of withdrawal as provided for in article L. 121-20 and following of the same code. Therefore, all sales of Trips are subject to the cancellation and modification conditions set out in Article 7.
Art. 4 • FEES
Each reservation for a Trip lasting 4 nights or more will be subject to the payment of a processing fee of 30 euros by VB. The booking fee is final and cannot be refunded – unless the Trip is cancelled at VB’s initiative.
Art. 5 • PRICES
Prices “from” are valid on certain dates for certain departure cities and subject to availability. Final rates are given at the time of booking. Prices for Trips are all-inclusive and cannot be split up by type of service. Unless expressly stated to the contrary, prices do not include any application fees (cf. art. 4) and comprehensive insurance (cf. art. 22), any personal expenses (laundry room service, telephone service, passport delivery fees, etc.), tourist taxes, tips, visa application fees and, more generally, any service not expressly specified in the preceding information documents. In the case of international Trips, the all-inclusive price means that the price includes all variable taxes related to air travel (airport, security, fuel surcharge and solidarity taxes) or sea travel. Fares are subject to change under the conditions specified in Article 8.
Promotions: The Holidaymaker benefiting from a price reduction under a promotional operation or a partnership price agreement must take advantage of it when booking the holiday. As soon as the confirmation or the invoice is issued, the Holidaymaker will not be able to benefit from any further discount. Except where otherwise stated, price reductions and special offers mentioned in the brochures or on this website are not cumulative. It is hereby stated that promotional deals do not apply retroactively and therefore do not concern clients having already made their reservation prior to the date of publication of the offer. As a result, the difference between the price paid and the promotional price will not be retroactively refunded to the Holidaymaker who paid a higher price.
In the event of a manifest error in the advertised or published price, such as a low price compared to the average price of the same product during the same period, the holidaymaker is informed that the contract will be considered null and void and that he/she will be refunded the deposit or the total price paid without compensation, regardless of the period during which VB becomes aware of the error, unless the holidaymaker accepts the new actual price communicated by VB.
Art. 6 • PAYMENT
Payment Schedule
Reservations for travel, stay or rental accommodation shall only be made upon receipt of an advance payment corresponding to 30% of the total amount of the stay, 100% of the administrative and insurance costs and, if applicable, 100% of the transport tickets (air or rail) purchased from VB to reach the place of stay in France.
Barring any mention to the contrary on the booking confirmation, the balance must be paid:
- At least 65 days before departure for river and sea cruises;
- At least 45 days before departure for holidays abroad and holidays in France.
For bookings made after the balance payment deadline, full payment of the stay is required at the time of booking. Reservations for accommodation in France (single room or with breakfast and/or meals in addition) of less than or equal to 4 nights are subject, depending on the establishment and the type of tariff chosen, to specific payment and cancellation conditions which will be indicated on the option and the booking confirmation. These reservations imply the Holidaymaker’s provision of credit card payment information (name, number and validity date) in order to guarantee payment of the stay.
When booking with a non-cancellable, non-refundable rate for travel in France and abroad, a full prepayment of the stay must be made upon confirmation of the booking.
Means of payment
The following means of payment are accepted for the payment of the stay:
- Bank card (Visa, Eurocard/Mastercard and American Express);
- Bank cheque: made out to Vacances Bleues with the following information on the back: name, date of stay, name of the establishment, contract number (even if a letter is enclosed);
- Cash only in agency and postal orders within the legal limit, i.e. 1,000 euros.
- Paper vouchers and Connect vouchers (please note: electronic vouchers are not accepted): Vouchers must be valid at the time of use Vouchers must be received at least 65 days before the start of the holiday. Paper holiday vouchers must be made out to VB. Holiday vouchers for the balance of the holiday must be received by us no later than 65 days prior to the start of the Trip. They must be sent to Vacances Bleues by a secure means of delivery (e.g. registered post or Chronopost, depending on the value of the vouchers). Declared value shipments are not accepted). VB cannot be held responsible in case of non-receipt due to loss or theft of the vouchers. In the event of cancellation of the stay, the amount paid in holiday vouchers will not be refunded. In the event of cancellation of the stay, the amount paid in holiday vouchers will not be refunded. A credit note may be issued for a future holiday.
- VB Gift and Sponsorship Vouchers: Only one discount voucher will be accepted per application. Gift vouchers and sponsorship vouchers do not have monetary value and cannot be exchanged or reimbursed in whole or in part, particularly when their validity date expires or in the event of loss or theft, nor can they be returned in monetary terms.
Cadhoc cheques, CADO cheques or CADO card
Payments made by mail with declared value are not accepted.
Failure to meet the payment deadline
VB shall not be bound to maintain the reservation and the Contract shall be terminated by operation of law by the Holidaymaker and no formalities shall be required, in which case VB shall be liable to pay the termination indemnities in accordance with the provisions of article 7. Any person who has not paid for a trip will not be able to re-register without first clearing his/her account.
Art. 7 • MODIFICATION OR CANCELLATION OF THE TRIP BY THE HOLIDAYMAKER
Any modification or cancellation of the Trip must be brought to the attention of VB by any written means allowing for acknowledgement of receipt. A change to the Trip is defined as any change made after the confirmation of the reservation, in particular with regard to the number of persons, the services booked, the dates and/or the duration or the destination. All requests for changes will be treated as cancellations.
For any reservation paid in full or in part by means of a COVID-19 credit note, if the traveller wishes to cancel this new reservation, the cancellation fee schedule below will apply. Any refund will be in the form of a new credit note which can be used under the same conditions and until the end of the validity period as the original credit note.
Cancellation fees for holidays in France (except Corsica and cruises)
If the Holidaymaker cancels before departure, VB will be liable for the following charges on the total amount of the trip (excluding the booking fee and insurance costs, which will be retained by VB).
- From the date of booking to 46 days before departure: 30 € cancellation fee per file;
- From 45 to 31 days before departure: 10%
- From 30 to 21 days before departure: 30%
- Between 20 and 8 days before departure: 50%
- From 7 days before the start of the trip or in case of no-show on the day of arrival: 100%.
For non-refundable bookings, 100% of the cancellation fee will be charged when the stay is confirmed.
For stays in France at a flexible hotel rate (room only or with additional breakfast and/or meals) of less than or equal to 4 nights, cancellation charges will be applied at the first night rate from 48 hours prior to arrival (12 hours) and 100% in the event of No Show.
VB reserves the right to immediately offer for sale and without prior notice the rooms vacated as a result of no-show or cancellation, notwithstanding the penalties applied, which will be automatically retained by VB. In case of late arrival, the client must inform the reception of the site as soon as possible.
For trips including additional services (Spa excursions…) the total amount of these services will be retained.
Any request for cancellation of a transport ticket (air or bus) purchased from VB to reach your place of stay in France will be invoiced at 100% of the price including VAT as soon as the reservation is made.
Cancellation fees for holidays abroad, tours in Corsica and cruises
In the event of cancellation by the holidaymaker before departure, the following scale of charges will apply per person to the total cost of the holiday (excluding any filing and insurance costs, which will be retained by VB).
General:
- From the date of booking to 125 days prior to departure, 30% of the total cost of the trip;
- From 124 to 45 days prior to departure, 60% of the total cost of the trip;
- From 44 to 33 days prior to departure, 85% of the total cost of the trip;
- From 32 days to the day of departure, 100% of the total cost of the trip:
- If you do not show up on the day of departure, 100% of the total cost of the holiday.
Special Features:
Azores, Crete, Croatia, Jordan, Madeira, Malta, Montenegro, Scotland:
- From the day of booking until 35 days prior to departure: 50% of the total amount of the trip;
- From 34 days to the day of departure 100% of the total amount of the trip;
- No show on the day of departure: 100% of the total amount of the holiday.
River cruises:
- From the date of booking to 95 days before departure: 30% of the total amount of the trip;
- Between 94 and 55 days before departure: 60% of the total amount of the trip;
- Between 54 and 34 days before departure: 70% of the total amount of the trip;
- From 33 days to the day of departure: 100% of the total cost of the holiday.
Sea cruises:
- From the date of booking to 125 days before departure: 20% of the total cost of the holiday;
- Between 124 and 62 days before departure: 40% of the total cost of the trip;
- Between 61 and 33 days before departure: 50% of the total cost of the trip;
- Less than 33 days before departure: 100% of the total cost of the trip;
- No show on the day of departure: 100% of the total amount of the holiday.
Visa fees and travel authorisation
Excursions or tickets to exhibitions, museums, activities or shows with prepayment requirement to guarantee the reservation.
Excursions or tickets to exhibitions, museums, activities or shows with a prepayment requirement to guarantee the reservation.
In case of cancellation 100% of the fees will be retained once the ticket is issued.
Art. 8 • MODIFICATION OR CANCELLATION OF THE TRIP BY VB (FRANCE AND ABROAD)
Possible changes to the programmes
VB may be required to make changes to the program initially planned, on its own initiative or for reasons beyond its control. Excursions or stages may be modified as well as itineraries may be reversed, particularly according to local requirements or when destinations are impossible to access.
The cruise programme may be modified according to navigation and safety requirements VB cannot be held responsible for any change in the cruise itinerary, including the cancellation of a stopover and/or a connection scheduled in the programme, by the cruise line or the ship’s captain, as long as it is due to safety reasons or Force Majeure.
Price Changes
Within the limits provided for in articles L.211-12 and R.211-8 of the Tourism Code, VB reserves the right to revise its prices upwards or downwards in order to take into account:
- The cost of transport, particularly in relation to the cost of fuel.
- Changes in fees and taxes relating to the services sold, such as air/port taxes.
- Exchange rate fluctuations.
The prices of the trips shown in this brochure and on our website have been established according to the currencies used for the payment of the service providers, valid for any stay from 01/12/2022.
- For Jordan, rates are calculated at the rate of 1 USD = 1€.
- For Scotland, rates are calculated at the rate of 1 GPB = €1.19.
These possible revisions would apply to all persons registered or yet to be registered and would be passed on in the invoices issued at the latest 19 days before departure. In case of an increase of more than 8%, holidaymakers who have already registered will be given the opportunity to cancel their trip free of charge (except for booking fees and pre-payments made to guarantee reservations), on condition that this cancellation is made no later than 7 days after receipt of the notice of increase. From 20 days before departure, no price changes can be made.
Cancellation due to insufficient numbers
The minimum number of participants for the trip to be confirmed is indicated in the “Guaranteed departure” pictogram. If the minimum number of participants required for a trip is not reached, VB reserves the right to cancel the trip without compensation at the latest 21 days before the departure date for trips lasting more than 6 days 7 days before the departure date for trips lasting 2 to 6 days 48 hours before the departure date for trips lasting 1 to 2 days. The Holidaymaker will then be reimbursed for any sums paid but will not be entitled to compensation.
Art. 9 • TRIP DURATION
The duration of the trip is calculated from the day of convocation at the departure airport or boarding until the day of return. Stays are calculated on a number of nights in a hotel or on a cruise and not a number of days. The first and last days may be shortened due to late arrivals or early departures, depending on the flight schedules of the airlines. Holidaymakers are advised not to make any major commitments the day before their departure or the day after their return. In the same way, in the event that the holidaymaker has booked his or her own transport between his or her home and the departure airport and/or port, VB undertakes to allow sufficient connecting time between the time of arrival at the airport and/or port and the time of departure of his or her main flight, both on the outward journey and on the return journey, and to book tickets or hotel accommodation before or after the trip, which may be modified or even refunded.
No refund shall be made for any Trip interrupted or curtailed through the fault of the Holidaymaker, nor for any excursion or package booked which is not taken up for any reason whatsoever.
Art 10 • HEALTH AND ADMINISTRATIVE FORMALITIES
The recommendations concerning formalities given at the time of booking are subject to change. Holidaymakers are strongly advised to consult the website www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/ under the headings Traveller’s Advice and Entry/Exit in order to check the latest administrative and health formalities. In the event that a Traveller is not in possession of the valid identity documents and/or visas required for the journey and/or the required document certifying his/her health status (in particular a vaccination certificate) and, as a result, would not be admitted to the Vessel or the foreign country, VB shall accept no responsibility whatsoever.
The Traveller will not be entitled to any reimbursement or compensation from VB and will be held responsible for any additional costs incurred. For French nationals, the administrative formalities are specified in the booking confirmation. Foreign nationals should contact their embassy for information. The completion of formalities as well as the cost of issuing passports and visas are the responsibility of the participant and cannot be reimbursed under any circumstances.
General Administrative Formalities
Information to be provided at the time of registration: the full names, dates of birth and identity document numbers of holidaymakers must be provided at the time of booking. The spelling of the holidaymaker’s first and last names given at the time of registration must exactly match the spelling on the identity documents that he/she will use for the stay and/or border crossing.
Identity Document: The holidaymaker must present a valid identity document (often 6 months after the date of return), whatever the destination, and be in good standing with the police, customs and health authorities required for the trip.
Extended French national identity cards, i.e. those with a validity extended to 15 years instead of 10, without any visible indication, will not be issued outside France, even in some European Union countries. VB strongly recommends that you travel with a passport whose validity corresponds to that required by the destination country.
You can consult the embassy or consulate of the country of destination and the website www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/services-aux-citoyens/
Visa: Depending on the destination and the type of passport held, a visa may be required. VB informs you that the approximate duration of the process to obtain a visa is 30 days from the receipt of all the required documents by the embassy or consulate concerned. This duration can go up to 90 days or more depending on the destination. You can consult the embassy or consulate of your destination country and the website www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs/ to help you with the procedure and to find out how long it is likely to take.
Administrative formalities specific to minors (of French nationality)
An exit permit is required if the minor is travelling with only one parent, with an adult who does not have parental care, or with a parent who does not share the same name. Specific formalities may be required for a minor to leave the country (or to enter a foreign country). We advise you to consult the website www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs depending on your destination.
For countries in the European Union: French minors of any age (even newborns) must have a valid national identity card after the date of return or a valid individual passport after the date of return.
For countries outside the European Union: A valid individual passport (often 6 months after the date of return) is compulsory and possibly a visa.
Health formalities
To find out about health risks in the country(ies) you intend to fly to, or stop over in, or transit through, and to find out about the recommendations issued by the authorities and how to comply with them, we advise you to consult the website www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs.
For European Union countries, it is advisable to bring your European Health Insurance Card (free of charge) and your vaccination booklet for other countries.
Additional formalities due to the public health crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic
The conditions of entry into countries change regularly. Wherever possible, Holidaymakers will be informed of any changes in the entry requirements of the destination country. However, up to the date of departure, Travellers are strongly advised to consult the website www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs.
It is the Traveller’s responsibility to comply with the formalities imposed by the French authorities and the country of destination due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Holidaymakers agree to undergo temperature checks, screening tests, medical checks or any other measures decided by the country of destination before departure or upon arrival in the country. Failure by a Traveller to provide the required information and/or documents or to undergo a health examination required by the authorities shall constitute grounds for cancelling this contract at the Traveller’s expense without entitling the Traveller to a refund of any sums paid.
In addition, Holidaymakers agree to comply with the procedures
put in place by government and local authorities to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. These may include social distancing, the use of face masks and hygiene protocols, or other measures. (non-exhaustive list).
Art. 11 • PRE- AND POST-ACCESSIONS
Arranged by the Client
No delay or cancellation preventing a Client from taking a main flight, a pre/post-ACHEMINATION or from going to one of our establishments or to the place of departure of our Trips on the outward or return journey can be attributed to VB and no refund can be made. We advise the customer to:
- leave sufficient time between the arrival of the pre-trip and the departure of the main trip, both on the outward and the return journey;
- not to plan any professional commitments for the day before or the day after departure;
- and to book transport tickets or hotel accommodation before or after the trip, with the possibility of changes or refunds.
Arranged by VB
VB can organise pre/post-trip transportation from certain cities in France. The Client is invited to contact a holiday advisor to find out if a pre/post-trip can be arranged.
Airfares for pre/post carriage from the provinces are subject to availability and to the airline designated for the main flight also operating from the client’s departure city. We endeavour to confirm the best possible connection for the client, however, depending on the date of registration or departure and aircraft capacity, we may have to confirm a flight the day before or after the international flight. In this case, any additional accommodation and/or meal costs incurred will be charged to the client. Pre- and post-trip schedules are generally communicated 45 days prior to departure. Once issued, pre-post tickets cannot be changed or refunded.
Art. 12 • AIR TRANSPORT
Airline identification
Pursuant to articles Rs. 211-15 to Rs. 211-19 of the Tourism Code, at the time of booking, VB will inform you of the identity of the airline or airlines, as known at that time, which are likely to operate the flight or flights. In the event of a change of carrier, Holidaymaker will inform the Holidaymaker by any means at the time of booking and until boarding.
Timetable / Arrival and connections
When known before or at the time of booking, the estimated departure and return times are communicated to the client, it being specified that they are subject to change. These times are subject to change and are often finalised well before departure due to the large number of departure airports and the limitations of each airport. In addition, significant delays or even a change of airport may occur due to a technical incident, adverse weather conditions or other factors.
Likewise, where known before or at the time of booking, the duration and location of stopovers and connections are communicated to the client; they are also subject to change. They are also subject to change. In any event, and in accordance with article L211-10 of the French Tourism Code, the client will be given the necessary documents and information on the scheduled time of departure and, if applicable, the latest check-in time, as well as the scheduled times of stopovers, connections and arrival, in good time before the start of the trip. No refunds will be given for unused seats on either the outward or return journey.
Special flights/charters
Please note that the departure and return times of special/charter flights are not known at the time the trip is planned and may only be known between 8 days and 24 hours before departure.
Reimbursement of airport taxes
If, for whatever reason, the holidaymaker is unable to board the aircraft, he/she may request a written refund of the air taxes and other charges payable upon actual boarding of the passenger, in accordance with the applicable regulations, for the amount invoiced to him/her, after deduction of the 20% handling fee retained by VB. The fuel surcharge is not refundable.
CO2 emissions
To find out the amount of carbon dioxide emitted during their journey, the Customer is invited to connect to the link provided by the French Civil Aviation Authority, accessible at the following address: https://eco-calculateur.dta. aviation-civile.gouv.fr/.
Art. 13 • GENERAL INFORMATION ON HOLIDAYS AND TRAVEL
Hotel classification
The star classification shown on the website and in the catalogue corresponds to that awarded by Atout France for establishments located in France. The star classification of hotels abroad is based on local standards. These differ from French standards.
Single rooms and cabins
Although sometimes less well located and smaller in size, single rooms and cabins are available for booking at an additional cost. Holidaymakers who have registered alone and have not opted for a single room will be charged the single room supplement at the time of registration.
A single room supplement will be charged to the remaining person in the event of cancellation by one person in a double room.
Sea view/side
When a hotel specifies that the room is sea or garden side or other, the view is never guaranteed. The sea view or the garden view or other view can be frontal or partial lateral.
Hotel stay
– Half-board and all-inclusive packages start with dinner on the first day and end with breakfast on the last day. Half board includes: dinner, bed and breakfast. Full and half board formulas start with dinner on the first night and end with breakfast after the last night. Drinks, including mineral water, are not included unless otherwise stated in the description. The “Drinks Package” or “All Inclusive” options allow unlimited consumption of certain drinks during certain time slots for people over 18. This option is compulsory for all persons (adults and children) in the same file who have chosen the half-board or full-board formula. The corresponding bracelet must be worn. Drinks are served during the bar opening hours. Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health and should be consumed in moderation. Vacances Bleues cannot guarantee that the meals offered in its restaurants will meet the requirements of people on a diet, including for medical or religious reasons.
Theft
Holidaymakers are strongly advised not to take any valuables with them to limit the risks of loss or theft. All personal belongings and valuables (money, jewellery, credit cards, electronic devices, etc.) remain the responsibility of the Holidaymaker. These valuables and personal belongings must be placed in the safes located in the rooms if necessary.
ART. 14 • ACCOMMODATION CONDITIONS (HOLIDAYS IN FRANCE)
Accommodation occupation
At the times stated in the Contract, the Customer shall occupy and vacate the room. The Customer may be charged an additional night's stay at the posted public rate if the Customer exceeds these times. VB will inform the Customer of the check-in and check-out times in good time before the start of the journey or stay if these times change. The Customer is advised to take precautions and inform the reception staff in the event of a late arrival if the accommodation does not have a night reception.
Stay in a rental package
Linen/cleaning:
Bedding and towels are included in the rent.
The holidaymaker is responsible for cleaning during the stay and at the end of the stay. A cleaning service at the end of your stay (excluding crockery and kitchen area) is available at an extra charge. The rates for each establishment can be found on this website. It can be booked at the time of your reservation or on-site.
Comfort package:
A Comfort Package, which includes the provision of bathroom and bed linen, beds made on arrival, change of bathroom linen on request and final cleaning (excluding crockery and kitchen area), is offered at an additional cost to be booked at the time of booking or on site (the rate applicable to each facility can be found on this website). This package is included for stays of less than three nights.
Children
Minors must be accompanied throughout their stay by at least one adult with parental authority or parental authorisation.
Children’s discount:
For destinations with a per person rate, reductions may be granted to children according to their age (age limits apply at the start date of the holiday and not at the time of booking) up to a maximum of:
- 100% of the adult fare including VAT for children under 2 years of age;
- 50% of the adult fare including VAT for children aged 2 to 5 inclusive;
- 25% of the adult fare, including VAT, for children aged 6 to 11 inclusive;
- 10% of the adult fare, including VAT, for children between 12 and 15 years of age.
Réduction Enfants : Pour les destinations avec une tarification à la personne, des réductions peuvent être accordées aux enfants, en fonction de leur âge (les limites d’âge s’entendent à la date de début du séjour et non à celle de la réservation), à hauteur de :- 100 % du tarif adulte TTC pour les enfants de moins de 2 ans ;- 50 % du tarif adulte TTC pour les enfants âgés de 2 ans à 5 ans inclus- 25 % du tarif adulte TTC pour les enfants âgés de 6 ans à 11 ans inclus- 10% du tarif adulte TTC pour les enfants âgés de 12 ans à moins de 15 ans. Ces réductions sont applicables aux enfants sous réserve que ces derniers partagent la même chambre que deux adultes payants. Les réductions ci-dessus ne s’appliquent pas en cas de réservation d’un hébergement en location, de type appartement.
Animals
Small pets (less than 8 kg) except for category 1 and 2 dogs defined as dangerous are accepted in all our VB establishments. Only one pet is allowed per accommodation unit and only in certain types of rooms/accommodation per establishment. In all common areas of our facilities, pets must be kept on a leash. For the sake of good hygiene, pets are not permitted in restaurant and breakfast areas during serving hours and in the vicinity of swimming pools. A supplement will be charged per night according to the tariff conditions of the establishment (for the tariff applicable to each establishment, please refer to this website.
Security deposit
Upon arrival, the Holidaymaker may be required to pay a deposit of up to €250. It will be returned to him/her at the end of the stay, subject to a satisfactory inventory of the accommodation, less any additional costs (unpaid extras, damage, cleaning costs, etc.).
Rules of Procedure
Internal regulations are displayed in each establishment. In the event of failure to comply with the rules and regulations, damage, violence, disrespect for others, failure to pay for the stay, failure to comply with the accommodation capacity, VB reserves the right to terminate the stay in advance, without refund or compensation.
It is strictly forbidden to smoke in all the accommodation, which is non-smoking.
Damage
The Holidaymaker must inform the establishment of any damage caused by him/her. He/she is responsible for any damage caused by him/her and undertakes to pay the cost of repairing any damage to the accommodation (rooms, common areas such as the swimming pool, whirlpool, garden and sanitary facilities).
Sports and other facilities
Access to facilities such as the steam bath, fitness room, etc. is subject to the conditions of use of these facilities. For minors, access to the swimming pool must be accompanied by an adult according to the specific conditions and timetables of each establishment. The opening hours of the spa restaurants and other facilities are subject to change without prior notice.
Art. 15 • ISSUANCE OF GIFT VOUCHERS – TRAVEL LIST
VB provides gift voucher sales or the opening of a travel list resulting in the issue of a gift voucher so that the person of your choice can choose a holiday from the Vacances Bleues range.
The gift voucher is valid for 18 months from the date of issue, for use towards the purchase of a Trip made through the Vacances Bleues reservation centre. The gift voucher’s validity date is the date on which the Trip is completed. The payment of a gift voucher cannot be made by means of another gift voucher.
The gift voucher is nominative and cannot be passed on to third parties. The voucher must be returned at the time of booking. Any damaged cheque may be refused. If all or part of the trip is paid for with Gift Vouchers, refunds in connection with any cancellation (subject to the application of the cancellation charges set out in Article 7) will be made in the same form up to the amount originally paid for with Gift Vouchers.
Art. 16 • LOYALTY PROGRAMME
The loyalty programme allows our Club clients to benefit from discounts and additional services. Two types of Clubs are offered:
The Privilege Club
Any person who has made at least 4 stays at Vacances Bleues (whatever the duration) over the last 4 years is considered a Privilege client.
Privilege Club clients benefit from:
- 15% discount for any stay of 7 consecutive days/7 nights in VB establishments (excluding partners in France, cruises and trips abroad). This discount cannot be combined with any other price advantage or current promotions.
- A dedicated telephone line
- A personalised welcome and care throughout you stay.
About the Gold Club
A Gold client is anyone having stayed at VB for a minimum of €4,000 per year over the last 3 years.
In addition to the Privilege Club advantages, Gold Club clients benefit from:
- A surprise delivered to your home
- A voucher for a weekend stay (2 days/1 night from Saturday to Sunday) with half board in a Vacances Bleues hotel of your choice (excluding partners in France, cruises and holidays abroad). This weekend is to be used within six months of receiving the voucher, subject to availability and cannot be combined with a stay starting before or after.
Art. 17 • SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM
The Sponsor Programme consists of a customer (hereinafter the "Sponsor") recommending VB to an adult individual who is not a customer of VB (hereinafter the "Sponsoree "), who in turn books a stay of at least 3 nights with VB (excluding partners, foreign travel and cruises) between 1 December 2022 and 30 November 2023. Subject to compliance with these conditions, a successful sponsorship will result in the award of a discount cheque for 120 euros to the Sponsor and a discount of 80 euros to the Sponsoree on their first-holiday booking. It is not possible for the Sponsor and the Sponsoree to be registered for the same holiday. The Sponsor must complete the Sponsorship Form which is available on line and give it to the Sponsoree who must return it to VB together with the holiday booking number. Only compliant and fully completed forms will be accepted. Any sponsorship voucher submitted with no booking number from the Sponsoree will be considered invalid and will not be eligible for a discount. In the event of cancellation of the Sponsoree’s booking, the Sponsoree’s discount may not be taken back, exchanged or carried forward to a subsequent stay. The Sponsor’s voucher will also be invalidated.
A Sponsoree can only be sponsored by one "Sponsor". In the case of more than one sponsorship, the first registration with VB will be used.
However, a Sponsor may sponsor several Sponsorees. When sponsoring three Sponsorees during the year (between 1 December 2022 and 30 November 2023), the Sponsor will receive, in addition to the three 120 euro discount vouchers, a two-day/one-night half-board weekend in the Vacances Bleues hotel of his choice.
The 120 euro discount cheque from the Sponsor is only valid for the purchase of a minimum one-week stay to be made within 18 months of the date of the Sponsoree’s reservation, from the central Reservations department, within the limit of available places and at the conditions of sale and rates in force on the day of the reservation (excluding partners, trips abroad and cruises). It is nominative. It cannot be passed on to relatives. No returns, exchanges or refunds will be made. Only one discount cheque will be accepted per application. Therefore, if the Sponsor has three Sponsorees in the same year, the three vouchers of 120 euros discount can be used on three different stays. The benefits of sponsorship are cumulative with children’s discounts, children’s freebies or the Long Stay offer. These discounts cannot be cumulated with other promotions or benefits, including the following: Partner discounts, early booking promotions, bargain or last-minute promotions, and loyalty benefits.
The weekend offered of 2 days / 1 night, (in accordance with catering formula available in the Vacances Bleues locations: including breakfast or half-board in hotels or clubs, without catering formula in the residences) must be booked through our central booking office. This weekend is valid from Monday to Sunday in VB hotels, clubs and residences (with the exception of partners in France, cruises and trips abroad). It must be redeemed within six months of receiving the voucher, subject to availability, and cannot be combined with a stay starting before or after.
Art. 18 • OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE HOLIDAYMAKER
The holidaymaker must inform VB in writing, prior to booking the Trip, of any special requirements that may affect the Trip (person with reduced mobility with or without a wheelchair, presence of an animal, transport of musical instruments, golf equipment, diving equipment, etc.) and of any special requests that the holidaymaker may have.
Art. 19 • ACCESSIBILITY
On the website, the destinations adapted to persons with reduced mobility are indicated by a pictogram. The establishments with rooms equipped with access facilities in accordance with the applicable standards are generally indicated as suitable for persons with reduced mobility. However, VB or any other service provider cannot provide and/or charge for additional services such as special medical assistance or equipment. The establishments cannot guarantee that the person with reduced mobility will have access to all the activities and facilities of the proposed destinations by their own means.
Disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility must provide VB with essential information about their disability prior to booking in order to assess the suitability of the trip and to ensure comfort and safety. For security reasons, VB reserves the right to deny a registration for a destination it deems inaccessible, without such denial constituting a refusal to sell.
Art. 20 • RESPONSIBILITY OF VB
Pursuant to the provisions of Art. 211-6 of the Tourist Code, VB is responsible for the correct performance of the services contracted for and is obliged to assist the customer should the latter encounter any difficulties, pursuant to the provisions of Art. L211-17-1 of the Tourist Code.
Under no circumstances can VB be held responsible for any of the following:
- The loss or theft of tickets by the traveller(s).
- Failure to present to the authorities and/or carriers, in accordance with the information provided by VB, the administrative and/or health documents required for the execution of the trip and/or entry into the country(ies) of the trip and/or crossing of borders.
- Damage caused by an unforeseeable and unavoidable event or exceptional and unavoidable circumstances to the traveller or to a third party not involved in the provision of the travel services included in the contract. VB can never be held liable for indirect damage.
- Arriving after the scheduled check-in and/or boarding time for any journey, including air travel. VB cannot be held liable for any refund of transport tickets in this case.
- The provision of services purchased on site by the traveller and not included in the travel programme, as well as pre- and post-trip arrangements made at the traveller's initiative.
- Cancellation due to exceptional and unavoidable circumstances and/or for reasons related to the safety of the travellers and/or by order of an administrative authority: in this case, VB reserves the right to modify the dates, schedules or itineraries planned, if in its opinion the safety of the travellers is at risk, without recourse to the travellers.
Art. 21 • TRANSFER OF THE TRIP OR HOLIDAY
The Holidaymaker may transfer his/her contract (excluding insurance contracts) to a third party, as long as this contract hasn't come into effect and provided that he/she informs VB by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, at the latest 7 (seven) days before the start of the Trip, in the case of a cruise, This period is extended to 15 (fifteen) days by providing the exact names and addresses of the transferee(s) and of the participant(s) in the trip, and proof that the latter fulfil the same conditions as the former traveller in order to make the trip or stay, subject to the time required to obtain a visa and the agreement of the airline to replace you with this new traveller. The holidaymaker (sending and/or receiving) will be charged a minimum of €50 per person for the file and all other costs.
Art. 22 • MULTI RISK INSURANCE
The Holidaymaker will have the opportunity to take out a comprehensive insurance policy before the booking is made. In particular, the following guarantees are included in the multi-risk insurance: Cancellation, Baggage Damage, Delayed Arrival, Assistance to Travellers, Assistance to Vehicles, Interruption of Stay and Civil Liability for Holidaymakers and a guarantee linked to epidemics and pandemics. In accordance with the previous article 7, the Cancellation Guarantee allows, within the limits and under the conditions established by the Multi-risk Insurance, the reimbursement of the sums withheld by VB, except for the amount of the booking fees and the subscription to the Multi-risk Insurance Guarantees. The Holidaymaker has a cooling-off period of 14 days from the date of subscription, in the case of multi-risk insurance and provided that no claim has been made. After this period, the subscription is final. It cannot be refunded. It is strongly recommended that the Holidaymaker take out personal insurance if he/she does not already do so. Please consult this website for the conditions and guarantees.
Art. 23 • PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY
VB is insured with MMA, by a professional liability insurance policy in accordance with the provisions of articles 20 and following of the decree n° 94–490 of June 15th 1994 taken in application of Article 31 of the law n° 92–645 of July 13th 1992. Guarantees are acquired up to a maximum of €5,000,000 per insurance year.
Art. 24 • QUALITY OF THE STAY
The Holidaymaker can share his/her personal experience with the community of internet users on the VB holidaymaker opinion site by means of a satisfaction questionnaire, the purpose of which is to measure the quality of service provided throughout the purchase process. This questionnaire will be sent by e-mail. The information collected in this questionnaire is subject to automated data processing, for which VB is responsible. The data is personal (first name + first letter of the last name) and will be used by VB in accordance with the regulations in force and in particular those relating to the protection of personal data.
Art. 25 • EVIDENCE
In accordance with the provisions of Article 1316-2 of the Civil Code, it is expressly agreed that, except in the case of an obvious error by VB, the data stored in the information system of VB and/or their partners and/or service providers, especially in the electronic messaging tools used, have evidentiary value with respect to orders placed and the performance of the parties’ obligations. The data on computer or electronic media thus stored constitute evidence and if produced as evidence by VB in any litigation or other proceedings, they shall be admissible, valid and enforceable between the parties under the same conditions and the same probative force as any document that would be established received or kept in writing.
Art. 26 • FORCE MAJEURE
Force majeure shall mean any event external to the parties presenting an unforeseeable and insurmountable character that prevents the Client or the hotel owner from fulfilling all or part of their obligations under the contract. Cases of force majeure or fortuitous events are those usually recognised by the case law of the French Courts and Tribunals.
Neither party shall be liable to the other for failure to perform its obligations due to an event of force majeure. It is expressly agreed that force majeure shall suspend the performance of the parties' mutual obligations and that each party shall bear the costs arising therefrom.
Art. 27 • COMPLAINTS
During the trip
If you notice any discrepancies in the execution of your trip, we invite you to contact VB. In the event of a complaint, we will take into account your failure to report any non-conformity in the performance of the services during your trip, if this could have financial consequences.
After the trip
The holidaymaker can lodge a complaint with VB for non-performance or poor performance of the contract. This complaint must be sent within 15 days of the trip or holiday by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt to the above address. Once the matter has been brought to the attention of VB, and if no satisfactory reply is received within 60 days, the holidaymaker may refer the matter to the Tourism and Travel Ombudsman, whose contact details and procedures for referral are available on the website: www.mtv.Travel by sending an online request or by post to Médiation Tourisme Voyage - BP 80 303 - 75 823 Paris Cedex 17.
Art. 28 • PERSONAL DATA
The information that you send us is recorded in a computer file by VB. Certain information must be provided to VB when you register and/or request a travel project; they are indicated by an asterisk. If you do not provide this information, your request will unfortunately not be processed. The other information requested is optional. Processing of your personal data requires that we can offer you a contract for your trip and that we can carry out this contract. Personal data we collect is used to provide you with access to any information about your trip(s) or travel requests, to process your requests (itineraries, travel services), to offer you similar services or trips in which you may be interested, to compile statistics, to register you for newsletters at your request and, with your consent, to send you information about VB and its partners (new products and services, commercial brochures and personalised offers). Please note that in order to process your order for travel services, your data will be passed on to VB’s subsidiaries and partners, suppliers of the services you have booked (hoteliers, transporters, etc.) or to technical service providers (IT, hosting, email distribution, online payment service provider, etc.), which may be located outside the European Union. Our subsidiaries and/or partners undertake to use your personal data exclusively to carry out certain functions that are essential for your trip, in strict compliance with your rights to the protection of personal data and in accordance with applicable legislation. VB will not transfer or sell your personal data to any third party. Your data is retained for the duration of the contractual relationship and for the period necessary to meet a legal or regulatory obligation. In any event, if you do not contact us for a period of three years, your personal data will be permanently deleted or made anonymous. In accordance with the French Data Protection Act n°78-17 of January 6th 1978, as amended, you have the right to access, oppose (in particular to the sending of marketing communications), rectify, limit and delete your personal data, as well as the right to portability. These rights can be exercised by writing to Vacances Bleues Diffusion Tourisme : 32, rue Edmond Rostand - BP 217 - 13431 Marseille Cedex 06 or by sending an email to donneespersonnelles@vacancesbleues.fr. You have the right to lodge a complaint with the CNIL if you consider that we are not complying with the regulations applicable to personal data. For more information about how we collect and process your personal information, please see our privacy and cookie policies on this website. In accordance with article L 223-2 of the French Consumer Code, you have the possibility of registering on a list of opposition to telephone solicitation.
Art. 29 • PHOTOS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
The photographic illustrations in the brochure only present partial and incomplete views of the sites and hotel facilities offered. In the event of printing errors or omissions in the brochure, we reserve the right to rectify these.
Photo credits: Wallis, Fotolia, Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, Istock, Thinkstock, Getty Image, Masterfile, Vacances Bleues.
Retailer
VACANCES BLEUES (TRADE NAME) DIFFUSION TOURISME
SAS with a capital of €914,694
Company head office 32, rue Edmond Rostand - 13006 Marseille RCS Marseille 421 866 344
Registration Atout France IM 013100138
Intracommunity VAT number: FR 80 421 866 344
Organisateurs
VACANCES BLEUES ÉVASION AS with a capital of €1,219,592
Company head office 32, rue Edmond Rostand - 13006 Marseille RCS Marseille 378 713 309
Registration Atout France IM 013100145
N° TVA Intracommunautaire : FR 85 378 713 309
VACANCES BLEUES HÔTELS
SAS with a capital of €677,416.24
Company head office 32, rue Edmond Rostand - 13006 Marseille RCS Marseille 391 127 875
Registration Atout France IM 013100144
N° TVA Intracommunautaire : FR 51 391 127 875
VACANCES BLEUES RÉSIDENCES
SAS with a capital of €1,913,3971
Company head office 32, rue Edmond Rostand - 13006 Marseille RCS Marseille 424 860 435
Registration Atout France IM 013100146
N° TVA Intracommunautaire : FR 56 424 860 435
FINANCIAL GUARANTEE INSTITUTION
UNAT - 8 Rue César Franck - 75015 Paris
ASSURANCES
HISCOX - 12 quai des Queyries CS 41177 - 33072 BORDEAUX
