Italian Delights Tours Terms and Conditions

Group Sizes, Prices, Deposits, and Payments

Maximum group size 14 guests - average size is 5-6 guests and tour groups rarely exceed 8 guests. This ensures that your comfort and enjoyment are our top priority. Tours and Tour Prices/Tariffs are subject to change.

These terms and conditions may also be revised by Italian Delights Tours from time to time. If you have booked on a tour with us we will notify you by email of the updated terms and conditions and we will publish the updated terms and conditions on our website.

Advertised Tours

Prices shown are per person, double occupancy. The deposit is 10% of the total tour price, or as listed on the tour registration form. This deposit is required before a booking can be confirmed by us. Payment instructions will be sent after we have received the Booking Confirmation and Guest Details form. No booking will be reserved until the prescribed deposit is received. Balance of the payment will be due 3 calendar months prior to the commencement date of the first tour date booked (30 days after Booking Confirmation Date if the date of the tour you are hoping to participate in is less than 90 days after the Booking Confirmation Date, and upon booking if tour commences within 30 days of booking date). Payment instructions will be sent to you after we have received your Booking Confirmation and Guest Details form. After your deposit has been received, we will send you an invoice with the due date for the balance of payment. Should your final payment fail to reach us by the date specified on your invoice, we reserve the right to cancel your booking without refund.

Private Tours

Italian Delights Tours reserves the right to develop specific Payment Terms and Conditions for each individual private tour. Private tour guests will be made aware of these specific conditions prior to paying their deposits. Prices for our Private Tours are always dependent upon the number of guests on tour. If guests in a private group withdraw from a tour at any stage prior to making their full payment, Italian Delights Tours reserves the right to increase the per person price of the tour for all remaining group members, to reflect the additional costs associated with conducting a tour with a smaller group than was initially agreed upon.

Cancellations and Tour Credits

Cancellation by You

If you cancel your tour reservation for any reason at any stage, your deposit is non-refundable. If cancelling more than 60 days before the tour starting date 60% of your total tour cost will be refundable. 

If cancelling more than 30 days, but less than 60 days before the tour starting date, 50% of your total tour cost is refundable for physician documented emergency medical reasons or for police documented cases of accident, flood, fire, or crime. If cancelling less than 30 days from the tour start date, a cancellation fee equal to 100% of the tour cost will apply. We do not provide refunds for: non-medical personal problems; air carrier delays or cancellations; inability to obtain passports; business problems or emergencies; etc.

You are required to purchase your own travel insurance to cover cancellation coverage, airline tickets, trip delay, lost luggage, or any potential medical expenses. 

If you cancel your tour reservation but wish to put any amounts paid towards a later tour, you will be offered a Tour Credit provided a minimum of 3 months’ notice of the cancellation has been provided (for rebooking, see ‘TOUR CREDITS’ section below).

Cancellation by Us

Italian Delights Tours reserves the right to cancel tours at any time for any reason such as lack of guest numbers or a Force Majeure Event.

If we cancel your tour, you can choose to:

• Receive a Tour Credit towards rebooking on another tour; or

• Receive a full refund.

However, if we have had to cancel your tour due to a Force Majeure Event, your refund will be less any costs we are unable to recover. 

Tour Credits

If you receive a Tour Credit, you will be able to transfer the Tour Credit towards another tour conducted by Italian Delights Tours in the following 14 months from the start date of your original tour, provided the rebooked tour is a Confirmed Departure. 

Please note that all tour prices are subject to a fluctuating AUD/EUR exchange rate, which may cause increases to the tour costs for the rebooked tour. If the rebooked tour is a more expensive tour, guests will need to pay the difference in price between the Tour Credit and the price of the rebooked tour. 

If you decide to cancel your booking rather than use your Tour Credits towards another tour, standard cancellation fees (as set out in the ‘CANCELLATION BY YOU’ section) will apply.

Important Arrivals/Departures Information

It is your responsibility to take note and enquire with us about the time we arrive at our arrival (pick up) and departure (drop off) points, prior to the beginning / after the end of our tours. This should be done prior to you making any flight or train bookings so that it is clearly understood that the arrangements will fit in with our times. Your train should arrive at least half an hour prior to the designated pick up time, and your flight should arrive at least two hours prior to the pick-up time. Upon your departure from the tour your train should leave no less than an hour after our intended arrival, and your international flight should leave no less than 3 hours after our arrival times (2 hours for Italian domestic flights and Europe-bound flights).

Luggage

Guests are allowed one medium-sized suitcase and one small carry-on bag per person. If you exceed this limit there may not be space in the vehicle(s) to transport your excess luggage and it will be at your own expense to have it transported throughout the tour. We suggest that you bring a day pack for carrying water, guide books, jacket, rain gear, etc.

How Physically Fit Do You Have to Be?

Escorted Small Group Tours

Our escorted tours are not athletic events. To comfortably complete them you should be able to do some moderate walks over hills and be able to climb a number of stairs. We will also be doing a lot of walking in the towns we visit. If you are planning an escorted tour with us it wouldn’t hurt to prepare yourself by starting a moderate walking program at least 2 months before the tour.

Walking Tours

Our walking tours are suitable for any active person, but there is no question that your enjoyment of the holiday will be hugely increased by some pre-trip preparation. Preparing yourself well will help ensure that you won't be distracted by physical or mental fatigue, and the risks of repetitive strains and injuries will also be greatly reduced.

Our Suggestions:

Go Walking - It seems obvious but to do some walks of similar length to those you will be doing on the tour, in the weeks leading up to it, is a big advantage. Build up gradually, so that you start with shorter ones and work up to longer distances.

Wear in your walking shoes - One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to arrive on the tour with a brand-new pair of boots. Wear them in! Your feet are of utmost importance, so make sure you have professional advice about fitting your walking boots and buy good quality socks which wick away moisture. If necessary, wear two pairs of socks to reduce the risk of blistering and do a bit of toe-nail management too!

Aerobic Exercise - Not everyone is a gym member but any exercise which helps to build cardio strength is an advantage, such as cycling, swimming, squash or football. Think of a few simple lifestyle changes like using steps instead of the lift or escalators and walk up and down the stairs a few extra times each day.

Mix up the Terrain - Even though most of our walks are on quiet country paved roads, when you're out walking practise on different terrain if possible, and don't limit your preparation to hiking on pavements and flat tracks or trails. Including some steeper ascents and descents will start to build strength and stony or rocky surfaces will give your knees and ankles some practice and help to improve your balance. Practise with your day pack also. You will only be carrying a small day pack, but your neck and shoulders can feel stiff if those muscles are not accustomed to this activity. Once again build up gradually and start light, adding extra weight to the pack as you gain in strength.

Water and snacks - In your training preparation for our walking tours remeber water and hydration when walking and fuel up on nutrient-rich snacks such as nuts, dried fruits, oat bars or plain chocolate. We will be carrying spare snacks for the group on our walks, and we also remind guests to fill up with water at every opportunity.

Health niggles - If you are aware of any strains or pains during your preparation period it is sensible to see a physiotherapist before you leave home, as early intervention is the key to getting better. They can assess your posture and movement and give specific activities to meet your needs.

How Physically Fit Do You Have to Be?

Please advise us of any special requirements such as Special Meals, Medical Requirements etc, as soon as possible. 

If you get motion sickness easily, it is advisable to bring with you motion sickness pills, as we will be travelling along hilly and mountainous roads at times.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law (including the Australian Consumer Law), we will not be liable for any loss (whether direct, indirect or consequential), delay or deferment, or death, injury, or damage to any person or property arising from a Force Majeure Event or due to an act or omission of any person (whether negligent or otherwise), including third party providers over whom we have no direct control. 

Where an applicable law provides that our liability cannot be excluded (including the consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law) our liability is limited to the remedies required of us under the applicable law.

Permission for Photos and Videos of Guests

You agree that our Tour Directors or Representatives may take photographs and films of you while you are on holiday and that these may be used in our Group brochures and/or advertising or publicity material without obtaining any further consent or payment in respect of such photographs and/or films.

Guest Conduct

Italian Delights Tours reserves the right to accept, reject, or not retain any person as a guest whose condition or general deportment impedes the operation of the tour or, in the opinion of the tour manager, affects the rights and enjoyment of other guests. A guest not retained on tour shall have no cause for complaint or refund and shall bear any and all extra expenses that ensue.

Each guest indemnifies and holds harmless Italian Delights Tours from any claim, cost, demand, liability or damage (including legal costs, professional costs and other expenses on an indemnity basis) incurred by Italian Delights Tours arising out of or in connection with (but not limited to): 

a. Any breach of these terms and conditions by the guest;

b. Any breach of the terms and conditions of any third party providers to Italian Delights Tours; or

c. Any injury, death, damage or loss sustained due to any act or omission of the guest.

Tour Changes

All information contained in this document is, to the best of our knowledge, correct. However, we reserve the right to make changes in accommodations, group composition, visits, and itineraries at any time, should it become necessary or desirable. Delays or itinerary changes caused by a Force Majeure Event are beyond our control and we are not obliged to pay guests compensation.

Definitions

“Australian Consumer Law” means the uniform consumer protection law set out in Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth).

“Confirmed Departure” means a tour departure that has been confirmed by Italian Delights Tours at its discretion, subject to confirmation of guest numbers.

“guest”, “you” and “your” means guests who have booked a tour with Italian Delights Tours. 

“Force Majeure Event” means anything affecting a party outside of that party’s reasonable control, including but not limited to fire, storm or other extreme weather event, flood, earthquake, epidemic, war, invasion, terrorism, civil commotion, blockade or embargo, labour dispute, labour shortage, failure or delay in transportation or supply, or any law, order, proclamation, regulation, ordinance, demand, requisition or requirement or any other act of any government authority.

“Italian Delights Tours”, “we” or “us” means Lombardy Delights Pty Ltd (ACN 122 218 400) in its own capacity and as trustee for the Lombardy Delights Trust (trading as Italian Delights Tours), and its officers, employees, agents and contractors. 

“Tour Credit” means an amount of credit equal to the dollar ($) value of the amount you have paid to Italian Delights Tours.