Terms & Conditions
For general terms and conditions that apply for programmes and services.
Prices
Prices are quoted in Euro (EUR) based on costs, tariffs and exchange rates valid in May 2010. The prices include VAT. Prices and all programme costs are subject to change without notice. Where no children’s price is mentioned it is available upon request. Tickets are not transferable.
Guide and transport bookings:
The weekday rates apply on Mondays - Saturdays 06.00 - 23.00.
The night rates apply 23.00 - 06.00.
The Sunday rates apply on Sundays and public holidays 00.00 - 24.00.
Group Programmes:
30% surcharge on Sundays and public holidays.
Service fee for additional extra services for groups (e.g. entrance fees):
85 €/booking
Public holidays in 2010: January 1 & 6, April 2 & 5, May 1 & 13, June 25 - 26, November 6, December 6 and 24 - 26.
Services included in the price
- transport as defined in the itinerary
- accommodation as defined in the itinerary
- meals as defined in the itinerary
- guide services and entrance fees according to programme
- taxes and service charges for items specified in the itinerary
- programme co-ordinating services (in the tailored group programmes)
The tour price does not include beverages or personal items not included in the itinerary.
Booking Conditions
Advanced bookings are highly recommended and should be made as early as possible to ensure the required service is available.
Last-minute bookings of guide and transport services (made 48 hours or less prior to the start of the tour): extra charge of 85 euro/guide/transport.
Full prepayment of the services is required:
-time allowing, Helsinki Expert will mail you an invoice.
-the payment can be completed by credit card, too. From the major credit cards we accept VISA, MASTERCARD and EUROCARD. For credit card payment we need the following information: type of card, credit card num-ber, name of cardholder, expiry date and the card verification code.
Changes and Cancellations
Changes and cancellations must be submitted in writing to Helsinki Expert Monday through Friday by 16.00 on the day of change/cancellation.
Changes and cancellations for tours for individuals
Tours max 7 hours within Helsinki area
• Less than 24 hours prior to departure – no refund
• No-show or interrupted tour – no refund
Tours to other destinations in Finland
• at least 15 days prior to departure full refund except administration fee 35 €.
• 14-2 days prior to departure - 50% refund
• Less than 48 hours prior to departure – no refund
• After the flight or train tickets or other tickets included in the program have been booked and issued – no refund
• No-show or interrupted tour – no refund
.
Igloo Experience
• at least 31 days prior to departure full refund except administration fee 35 €.
• Less than 30 days prior to departure - no refund
• No-show or interrupted tour – no refund
Helsinki by Kayak tour
• Less than 48 hours prior to departure – no refund
• 30-2 days prior to departure -50% refund
• More than 30 days prior to departure cancellation fee always 35 €/person
• No-show or interrupted tour – no refund
Helsinki City Break
• More than 1 day prior to arrival: full refund (except canvellation fee EUR 35/person)
• 1 day or less to arrival: no refund
• Cancellation fee always 35 €
Cruises to Stockholm, Tallinn and Germany (also the Medieval Tallinn Tour)
• at least 15 days prior to departure full refund except administration fee 35 €.
• For cancellations made 14-2 days prior to departure 50% of the tour price will be charged
• Less than 48 hours prior to departure – no refund
• No-show or interrupted tour – no refund
City Break in Helsinki package
• Cancellation can be made free of charge (except for the cancellation fee 35 €) until 4 pm the day before arrival
• Cancellation fee always 35 €
• No-show or interrupted tour – no refund
Tour to Russia
• at least 31 days prior to departure full refund except administration fee 35 €.
• 30-15 days prior to departure - 100 € charge
• 14-2 days prior to departure - 50% refund
• Less than 48 hours prior to departure – no refund
• The booking the fee for visas – no refund
• No-show or interrupted tour – no refund
Cruises to Russia
• Less than 48 hours prior to departure -no refund
• 14-2 days prior to departure -80% refund
• More than 14 days prior to departure cancellation fee always 35 €
• No-show or interrupted tour – no refund
Helsinki Cards, postcards and books will not be refunded or exchanged.
Cancelled tour - the booking fee will not be refunded
Changes and cancellations for individual hotel bookings
Terms of cancellation are stated in each confirmation, generally one day prior to arrival. Hotel reservations are kept until 18:00 on the day of arrival, unless otherwise agreed. In case of later arrival, a credit card guarantee is required.
Changes and cancellations for guide and transport bookings
If a guide and/or transport booking is changed or cancelled 48 hours or less before the start of the tour, full price of the guided tour will be charged.
Changes and cancellations for group programmes
• 60 – 36 days prior to departure: full refund excluding non-refundable processing fee of EUR 35/person
• 35 – 22 days prior to departure: 50 % refund (minimum charge EUR 35/person)
• 21 – 8 days prior to departure: 25 % refund (minimum charge EUR 35/person)
• 7 days or less to departure: no refund
Programmes including accommodation services of more than 50 rooms: terms of cancellations will be confirmed separately.
Changes and cancellations for group accommodation
Terms of cancellation are stated in each confirmation, generally 30 days prior to arrival. Hotel has the right to charge at least one night accommodation in case of no show or late cancellation.
Visas
Nationals of member states of the EU, the EEA and Schengen do not require visas to enter Estonia. The required travel document is a passport or a personal ID card with photo, granted after 1.3.1999 (excluding temporary ID cards). This also applies to children aged 7 or more. A child between the ages of 7 and 15 that has been entered on the passport of his/her parent must have his/her photo in the parent's passport or own ID card/passport. A child under the age of 7 that has been entered on the passport of his/her parent need not have his/her photo in the parent's passport. Please check the up-to-date visa requirements www.vm.ee.
A visa and a passport are compulsory for all passengers on the tours to Russia.
Each passenger is obliged to possess an official ID card or passport on cruises to countries within the Schengen area and on tours to Lapland. Helsinki Expert recommends passengers to possess an ID card or passport on all tours.
Helsinki Expert is not liable or responsible for any loss or damage resulting from improper or insufficient passports, visas or other documents.
Travel insurance is compulsory for certain citizens when travelling to Russia and for your own protection we highly recommend that you always have valid insurance when travelling abroad.
Responsibility
Helsinki Expert acts as agent for the owners or contractors providing means of transport, accommodation or other services. We cannot assume responsibility for acts of omission by any person or firm other than Helsinki Expert. Helsinki Expert is not responsible for accidents, loss, detention, annoyance, delays and expenses arising from the same, quarantine, strikes, force majeure, failure of boats or coaches to arrive and depart as scheduled, disturbances, government restrictions or regulations, weather conditions, and other eventualities over which we have no control. Timetables are subject to change. Reasonable changes in the itinerary may be made by Helsinki Ex-pert where deemed advisable for the comfort and well-being of the passengers.
More information
Tel + 358 9 2288 1222
