General terms and conditions of service

Unless otherwise stipulated in writing and signed by the parties, these general terms and conditions of service (hereinafter the GTCS) apply in full to the offer of a package tour (hereinafter the Package Tour) as part of the Le Grand Tour rail trip (hereinafter Le Grand Tour) including a range of services such as the organisation of the trip, access to the Le Grand Tour train (hereinafter the Train), stop-offs, sightseeing tours, catering and associated services sold by SAS LA COMPAGNIE DE FRANCE (hereinafter the Vendor) to individuals or groups of individuals dealing directly with the Vendor and for the maximum number of people stated below (hereinafter the Client). They form the essential and defining terms & conditions, thus, overriding any other document issued by the Client, regardless of the terms thereof. This applies even if such a document is issued after the GTCS are communicated, and also applies to any prospectus
and catalogues produced by the Vendor, which shall only have an informative value. Therefore, any Package Tour order with the Vendor implies that the Client unreservedly accepts the GTCS. The fact that the Vendor does not invoke, at a given time, any clause of the GTCS shall not be construed as a waiver to subsequently invoke all the clauses. If any of the clauses of the GTCS is found to be null and void or cancelled for any reason, the other clauses shall not be affected and the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to amend the annulled clause.
In the GTCS, the «Travel Documents» refers to the travel documents sent to the Client including the ticket, the type of cabin booked, access to the Main Stopovers and access to the Custom Stopovers if ordered by the Client. A «Main Stopover» refers to a stopover organised by the Vendor included by default in the Package Tour and a «Custom Stopover» refers to the stopovers proposed by the Vendor which the Client can choose to order in addition to the basic package.

The Order can be placed in French or English, subject to availability:
- by calling +33 (0) 2 52 09 73 00 from Monday to Friday from 9am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 5pm (French time),
- or on the seller’s website, accessible at https://www.legrandtour.com/ (hereinafter the Website)

The Customer must place his Order at least 7 days before departure for the Grand Tour Reims- Beaune and at least 3 days before departure for the Grand Tour-France
Each Client may place an order for one or more cabins for Le Grand Tour, up to 3 cabins per order. The Client shall specify in the Order the date of the Package Tour, the number and type of cabins required, the number of people wishing to participate in Le Grand Tour and their preferred allocation in the cabins booked, their name and delivery address (postal or email), and whether they wish to take out trip cancellation, trip interruption and repatriation insurance if necessary.

Online Ordering Procedure on the Website: The Order is placed in French. To this end, the Client selects the Package Tour of his/her choice in the calendar. He/she then indicates the number of passengers and cabins desired, as well as the cabin configuration of his/her choice, depending on the availability of seats. The Client must then complete the form submitted to him/her. The Client has the option of taking out insurance. After accepting the General Terms and Conditions of Service and clicking on «Continue», the Client may choose the payment method for the Package Tour before validating the Order. Once the payment has been made, the Vendor will acknowledge receipt by email with a confirmation of the trip including the travel contract and the corresponding payment receipt attached. A reservation number is then assigned to each Client.
This number is for the sole use of the Client. Any subsequent modification or cancellation will then be made by telephone with the reservation number assigned.

The Vendor shall acknowledge receipt of the Order by email, attaching the deposit invoice, the GTCS and the personalised sales agreement.

The Order is firm and final for the Client, who can only cancel or change it under the terms and conditions stipulated in the GTCS.
It is firm and final for the Vendor after written confirmation (hereinafter Confirmation) by the Vendor via e-mail.

The price of the Package Tour is the price communicated on the online sale website or by the Vendor’s teams on the telephone. It may vary depending on the season, the week and the length of the trip. It is stated in euros, includes all taxes and applies per person.
It includes:
-Participation in Le Grand Tour with full board, all breakfasts, lunches and dinners being
included in the trip
-The beverage package on board the Train, including bottles of mineral water, table wine provided according to the menus, coffee, tea and soft drinks
-Participation in the Main Stopovers booked by the Vendor
-Transfers between the Le Grand Tour Train and the Main Stopover locations.
It does not include:
-Custom Stopovers presented by the Le Grand Tour teams to be booked before departure by Clients
-Transfers to the Custom Stopover locations
-Beverages other than those mentioned above
-Tourist tax if applicable
-Clients’ personal expenses
-Tips for the Stopover tourist guides
-External services not reserved by the Vendor and directly requested by the Client, in particular supplements during meals, including à la carte wine during meals
-Trip cancellation, trip interruption and repatriation assistance insurance costs in the event of an accident, illness or death
-Generally speaking, all expenses not mentioned above.
For all additional services received during the trip, the service prices shall be those displayed in the Train by Le Grand Tour or applied by the external service providers for the Custom Stop-overs.

The Vendor has the right to change the service prices stated in the brochure and/or on the website at any time. The Client shall be notified of the price charged on the date of the sightseeing tour before the booking is confirmed.

Payment for the Order shall be made either by debit or credit card, according to a secure procedure, or by bank transfer as follows:
-At the time of ordering: 25% of the total amount of the Order as a deposit
-No later than 180 days before Le Grand Tour: an additional 25% of the total amount of the Order, as a deposit
-No later than 90 days before Le Grand Tour: the balance of the Order amount.
The deposit shall not bear interest.

The payment of the balance of the Order is final and signifies acceptance and signature of these GTCS and the travel agreement.

Booking Custom Stopovers: in addition to the Main Stopovers planned by the Vendor during the Trip, the Client shall be able to alternatively book a Custom Stopover from the selection of Custom Stopovers offered to them by the Vendor, subject to the availability of places. The Client shall be contacted by the Vendor’s teams for this purpose. The Client may choose the Custom Stopovers at the time of this contact, up to 90 days before the departure of the Grand Tour, and the Client shall pay for said Custom Stopovers when paying the balance of the Order. Under no circumstances may a Client’s option for a Custom Stopover allow the Client to claim a refund for their participation in the Main Stopover which will have been arranged by the Vendor and for which the booking
costs will have already been incurred by the Vendor.
As the number of places for each Custom Stopover is limited, bookings shall be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.

Travel Documents shall be issued to the Client no later than 21 days before the start of Le Grand Tour, either by email or by post (at the Client’s expense) to the address given by the Client when ordering.
The Client is not authorised to offer the Package Tour as part of any promotional gift, bonus or lottery.

The Travel Documents shall only be valid for the date(s) and the person(s) mentioned on the documents therein. In this regard, Le Grand Tour staff may request any Client to provide proof of identity. If no such proof is provided, the Vendor reserves the right to deny access to Le Grand Tour, without the Client being able to claim a refund.

It is up to the Clients concerned to find out about the passport and visa conditions to reach the place from which Le Grand Tour departs.

Clients with Travel Documents must board Le Grand Tour at the time stated on the Travel Documents. The cabin provision arrangements are shown on the Travel Documents.

The nature, features and comfort level of the Package Tour, including accommodation, are those described in the brochures and/or on the Website.

Luggage: each Client may bring on board the Train suitable hand luggage, a garment bag or a travel bag to be stored in the cabin, and a suitcase that will be placed in the «luggage cabin» provided that they are clearly labelled so that they can be correctly and quickly identified (Client’s name, telephone number and cabin number). Products, goods and objects whose contents are likely to threaten the health and integrity of persons and property, in particular the staff on board the Train, other Clients and/or their luggage, and in particular flammable, explosive, corrosive, dangerous or odorous substances as well as objects that do not comply with customs or police regulations, and in general, goods and objects other than those intended for the Client’s personal use are prohibited in the luggage and on board the Train. Cabin luggage remains the responsibility
of its owner throughout Le Grand Tour.

Smoking or vaping on board the Train is not allowed.

In the event of exceptional events or cases of force majeure, the Vendor reserves the right to have the Client accommodated, partially or totally, in local accommodation, to change or cancel a Stopover and/or to change the catering arrangements, at no extra charge and without being liable for any additional compensation in this respect.
Clients are required to comply with Le Grand Tour rules of procedure. Clients travelling on board the Train must comply with the procedures, rules and recommendations expressed by Le Grand Tour staff. Vendor or Le Grand Tour staff may request the removal of anyone infringing these rules without any recourse possible. Clients removed in this context cannot under any circumstances obtain a refund of their Order.

One cabin is equipped, as well as the restaurant and bar, to accommodate people with disabilities who can make a reservation with Le Grand Tour. However, Compagnie de France cannot guarantee that all the Stopovers offered as part of Le Grand Tour are all accessible to people with disabilities.

The Vendor’s teams are available to answer any questions regarding the possibility and arrangements for people with disabilities to participate in Le Grand Tour before they make a booking, subject to availability. The teams can be contacted by calling +33 (0)2 52 09 73 00, Monday to Friday from 9am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 5pm (French time), or by email at legrandtour@puydufou.com.

Pets are not allowed on board Le Grand Tour for safety reasons, except for assistance dogs. The Client must inform the Vendor if they have an assistance dog before paying for the booking and provide official proof of this when boarding Le Grand Tour.

Minors must be accompanied by a parent or other authorised adult, in particular in the cabins, and their parents or accompanying adults shall be fully responsible for them during Le Grand Tour.

If necessary, Clients must notify the Vendor no later than 3 months before the start of Le Grand Tour, when finalising the booking, of any specific dietary requirements (allergies) they have so that the Vendor’s staff can make every effort to comply with these specific dietary requirements.
After this period, Le Grand Tour staff do not guarantee that they will be able to offer the Clients concerned alternative menus to the menus originally planned.

For the organisation and execution of transport, transfers, catering and any other service that takes place outside the Train, the Vendor uses various independent service providers whose representatives are not the Vendor’s employees. Consequently, the Vendor cannot be confused with these independent service providers and/or their representatives, who maintain, vis-à-vis the Clients, the responsibilities specific to their activities, under the terms of the statutes and the general terms and conditions of sale that govern the performance of such services.

The Vendor is responsible for the proper performance of Le Grand Tour travel services in accordance with the provisions of Article L211-16 of the French Tourism Code and shall do its best to provide appropriate assistance to any Clients in difficulty, as soon as possible considering the circumstances of the case, in accordance with the provisions of Article L211-17-1 of the French Tourism Code.

The Client shall inform the Vendor, as soon as possible considering the circumstances of the case, of any non-compliance found during the execution of the Package Tour included in the agreement, in accordance with the provisions of Article L211-16 of the Tourism Code.

In this respect, any complaint relating to the Package Tour must be sent by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt, accompanied by all supporting documents, such as the Travel Documents, to the Vendor within 15 days of the execution of the Package Tour, otherwise the complaint shall be inadmissible.

The Client is entitled to seek mediation free of charge from the Tourism and Travel Ombudsman in accordance with the procedures set out on the website www.mtv.travel/. This must be undertaken within sixty (60) days following the lodging of a complaint with the Vendor, and within a maximum period of one year following the submission of a written complaint to the Vendor.

8.1 The Vendor is under no legal obligation to respond to any change requests. However, before the start date of the Package Tour (date of receipt of the request by the Vendor), the Client is free to request a change in the type of cabin or the date of the Package Tour only during the season originally booked, whatever the cause, subject to availability and, where applicable, the payment of the surcharge resulting from the change. The Client cannot claim a refund because of this change and must pay an administrative fee, details of which are in the table below:

Date of receipt of the request for a change of date and cabin type :

• 121 days or more before the start date of the Package Tour : €50 rebooking fee per cabin
• Between 120 and 91 days before the start date of the Package Tour : 50% of the Order amount including tax
• Between 90 and 61 days before the start date of the Package Tour : 75% of the Order amount including tax
• Between 60 days and the start date of the Package Tour : 100% of the Order amount including tax

8.2 As an exception to the above, the Client is free to request a change or cancellation of a Custom Stopover, subject to availability, free of charge, up to 90 days before the start date of the Package Tour. Less than 90 days before the start date of the Tour, Custom Stopovers cannot be returned, exchanged or refunded.

8.3 For any change or cancellation requests stipulated in 8.1 or 8.2 above, the Client must send a written change request by email to legrandtour@puydufou.com or by post to: Compagnie de France - Reservations Team - Puy du Fou - CS 70025 - 85590 LES ÉPESSES.

8.4 If the request relates to a reduction in the number of people requesting the Package Tour or to the cancellation of one or more of services covered by the Order, the change shall be considered as a cancellation under Article «9-Cancellation initiated by the Client».

The Client is free to cancel their Order in full, whatever the cause and without being able to claim a refund of the deposit already paid.
If the Client has already paid the balance of their Order, they must pay penalties calculated according to the following scale for cancelling their Order in full:

Date of receipt of the cancellation request :

• 181 days or more before the start date of the Package Tour : 25% of the amount including tax of the cancelled services
• Between 180 and 91 days before the start date of the Package Tour : 50% of the amount including tax of the cancelled services
• Between 90 and 61 days before the start date of the Package Tour : 75% of the amount including tax of the cancelled services
• Less than 60 days before the start date of the Package Tour : 100% of the amount including tax of the cancelled services

To do so, the Client must send a written cancellation request by email to legrandtour@puydufou.com or by post to: Compagnie de France - Reservations Team - Puy du Fou - CS 70025 - 85590 LES ÉPESSES.

If the Client has already received the Travel Documents, they must attach it to the cancellation request. The charges stipulated in this article shall not apply when the cancellation is covered by cancellation insurance taken out by the Client in accordance with Article 13.
 

The Vendor may at any time, of its own accord and automatically, offset all sums owed to it by the Client against all sums owed by the Vendor to the Client, in particular between the amount of the deposit paid and the amount of the cancellation penalties defined above, in accordance with the conditions set out in Articles 1347 et seq. of the Civil Code.

10.1 In the event of the Client’s no-show at the start of Le Grand Tour on the dates and times stated in their Travel Documents, the Package Tour cannot be exchanged, postponed or refunded.

Under no circumstances may the Vendor be held responsible if the Client is late for the start of Le Grand Tour. The Client shall remain solely responsible for the transport, transfer and accommodation costs or any other expenses they may have had to join Le Grand Tour at a scheduled stop on its route, at a Stopover location or to return home.

10.2 Similarly, it is the Client’s responsibility, during Stopovers, to return by the times stated by the Vendor. Under no circumstances may the Vendor be held responsible if the Client is late in returning from a Stopover when this delay is attributable to the Client. The Client shall remain solely responsible for the transport, transfer and accommodation costs or any other expenses they may have had to join Le Grand Tour on its route.

10.3 If the Client is late in arriving at the location where the Customs Stopovers booked by the Client take place, the Client may be refused access to said Stopovers without any refund possible, in accordance with the terms and conditions applicable by the establishments concerned.

The Client may, subject to 21 days’ notice before the start of the Package Tour (date of receipt of the request by the Vendor), transfer the agreement to a person (the Transferee) who meets all the terms and conditions applicable to this agreement.

To do so, the Client must send a written request to the Vendor by registered mail to: Compagnie de France - Equipe des réservations - Puy du Fou - CS 70025 - 85590 LES ÉPESSES, stating the following information: the reference number; the Client’s first name, last name, postal address and email address; the Transferee’s first name, last name, postal address and email address; the start date of the trip and the duration of the trip being transferred. The Travel Documents sent to the Client and the payment of 50 euros per person in adminstrative fees must be attached to this request which must be signed by the Client and the Transferee.

When the Travel Documents has been sent to the Client by email, the Client may send their written request by email to: legrandtour@puydufou.com or call the telephone number stated on the invoice.

After receipt of said notification, and payment of the administrative fee, booking confirmation and a new Travel Documents shall be sent to the Transferee replacing the Client and the invoice for the administrative fee shall be sent by the Vendor to the Client who has transferred their Order.

The Client and the Transferee shall be jointly and severally liable for the full payment of the booking price, as well as any additional expenses, fees, shipping costs, transfer charges, new service bookings, etc. incurred as a result of the transfer. Furthermore, the Client shall indemnify the Vendor against any non-performance or improper execution of the Order by the Transferee, and against any breach of the GTCS.

The insurance policy presented in Article 13. Any cancellation insurance taken out by the Client cannot be transferred to the Transferee and the corresponding amount of money shall be lost.

The right of withdrawal may not be exercised for agreements for the provision of accommodation services other than residential accommodation, goods transport services, car rentals, catering or leisure activities which must be provided on a specified date or for a specified period. The Client therefore has no right of withdrawal.

At the Client’s request when placing the Order, the Vendor shall take out, in the name and on behalf of the Client, trip cancellation and interruption insurance with Allianz Travel (policy no. 451 891), allowing the Client to be refunded the amount of the services, under the term and conditions specified by the insurance policy. For further information, please visit: https://www.puydufou.com/download/fr/CG_assurance_mondial_assistance.pdf

The Vendor may at any time delete or change the services offered in its communication media and Travel Documents.

The Vendor must notify the Client as soon as possible of any «minor» changes to the Package Tour (such as, for example, but not limited to, a change in departure time of less than 24 hours, a change in the itinerary and/or stopping points, a change in accommodation of the same category or to a higher grade, replacement stop-off) and the Client may under no circumstances claim compensation.

When, before the departure of Le Grand Tour, the Vendor is forced to make a «major» change to the trip in the event of a change of departure date, change of departure point or destination more than 100 km from the originally planned departure point or destination, an unavailable train or the cancellation of Le Grand Tour, or in the event of a price increase of more than 8%, the Vendor shall inform the Client as soon as possible and the Client shall then be able to:
-Accept the proposed changes. If the total cost is lower than the original cost of the booking, the Client shall be able to receive a refund; or
-Refuse the proposed changes and cancel their booking, receiving a full refund of the Order amount; or
-Refuse the proposed changes, to cancel their booking and request an alternative booking, subject to availability. If the alternative booking costs more than the original booking, the Client must pay the price difference. If the alternative booking costs less than the original booking, the Client shall be able to receive a refund.

The Client must inform the Vendor of their decision:

- within 5 days of notification of the change or cancellation if the notification was sent by the Vendor 20 days or more before the start date of the Package Tour; or

- within 48 hours of notification of the change or cancellation if the notification was sent by the Vendor less than 20 days before the start date of the Package Tour.

If no response is provided within the time limits stated above, the Vendor shall be entitled to cancel the booking and refund the Client.

Furthermore, in accordance with the provisions of Article L211-14 of the French Tourism Code, the Vendor reserves the right to cancel the Package Tour, without cost, in the following two cases:
-if the number of people registered for Le Grand Tour is less than 22. In this case, the Vendor shall notify the Clients no later than 7 days before the start of the Tour and shall send them the refund corresponding to the amount of their Order that they may have booked, without being required to pay any additional compensation
-if the Vendor is prevented from performing the agreement due to exceptional and unavoidable circumstances.

If the Vendor is forced to cancel a Le Grand Tour trip after its departure and before half of the journey is over, the Vendor shall inform the Client as soon as possible: the Client may request a refund up to the value of the cancelled and unreplaced Package Tour. This request must be made in writing, accompanied by supporting documents, in particular the Access Ticket, within 20 days of the cancellation, otherwise the request shall be inadmissible.

The Vendor retains full and complete ownership of its intellectual property rights, in particular with regard to its trademarks and other identifying signs. The Client is probibited from copying or imitating them, either directly or indirectly. Any reproduction of the trademark and identifying signs belonging to the Vendor is subject to prior written approval by the Vendor.

In accordance with the legal provisions, Clients have a right to access, rectify, and object to personal data concerning them. This right may be exercised by writing to the Vendor, specifying your first and last name and address at the following address: Compagnie de France, Reservations
Team - Puy du Fou - CS 70025 - 85590 LES ÉPESSES.
Subject to the Client’s acceptance at the time of the Order, this personal data shall be processed by computer to enable providing information to Clients regarding the Vendor’s services and offers. This personal data may also be transmitted to the Vendor’s partners, when this is useful for performing the services, in particular to the Vendor’s partners providing accommodation and catering services.

Bloctel: in accordance with Article L.223-2 of the French Consumer Code, the client shall be informed of their right to register on the list of opposition to cold calling, available on the website http://www.bloctel.gouv.fr/

When selling a «tourist package», the Vendor is responsible for the proper performance of all travel services included in the agreement in accordance with Articles L. 211-16 et seq. of the French Tourism Code.
The Vendor shall under no circumstances be held liable in the event of non-performance or improper execution of the Order, of non-compliance with the GTCS attributable to the Client, to the unforeseeable and insurmountable act of a third party or to exceptional and unavoidable circumstances.

The Vendor can never be held liable for indirect damage. The Vendor cannot be held
responsible for the Client’s journeys to and from the trip. The Vendor recommends that Clients who have to travel to and from the trip should book changeable, indeed refundable, travel tickets in order to avoid the potential risk of their financial loss.

With the exception of personal injury or damage caused intentionally or by negligence, and pursuant to the provisions of the following paragraph, damages payable by the Vendor shall not exceed three times the total price of the trip or stay.
If a Client fails to deposit items of a value greater than 100 euros in the locked safe provided in the room, this constitutes a fault and no damages shall be payable by the Vendor in this respect. In other cases, the damages payable by the Vendor may not exceed three times the price of the room for one night.

In addition to the elements usually accepted under French case law as constituting force majeure, the Vendor’s obligations are automatically suspended, without the Vendor being held responsible for any non-performance, in the event of force majeure and, in general, in the case of an event beyond its control preventing the normal execution of the Order, such as bad weather, floods, fire, strikes or lockouts at the premises of the Vendor or its suppliers, force majeure of suppliers or any other cause
leading to partial or total layoff for the Vendor or its suppliers, supply difficulties, decisions taken by an administrative authority, riots, vandalism, tooling accidents, transport disruption or delays, service stoppage at the behest of law enforcement officers (police, firefighters, customs officers and others); rail disruption; accidents (involving people, suicides, Clients’ health problems, level crossing accidents
or barrier breakage and others) or assaults; malicious acts (stone throwing, cable theft, signal or barrier breakage, triggering of the alarm signal, etc.); obstacles on the track (trees, rocks, animals or people wandering along the tracks) or occupation of the tracks; fire on the track or its immediate surroundings; the operational consequences of spacing out trains: limitated infrastructure capacities preventing the movement of trains in their theoretical paths and in general, any railway constraints.
The Vendor shall inform the Client of the occurrence of such an event by letter or email, specifying the services affected. If the force majeure event or its consequences continue for more than 20 days from the date of sending of this letter or e-mail, either Party may cancel such part of the Order as the Vendor is unable to carry out. This shall be done by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, without such cancellation giving rise to any compensation, penalty, or indemnity.

The insurance policy covering the consequences of the Vendor’s professional civil liability provides insurance for the following risks: Bodily injury, material damage, and consequential immaterial damage.
The coverage amount in this respect is 15,000,000 euros for bodily injury and 2,500,000 euros for material and consequential immaterial damage.

Geographical coverage: worldwide with the exception of the United States, Canada and countries embargoed by the laws or regulations of the European Union, the United Kingdom or the United States.

The Vendor has taken out insolvency protection with ATRADIUS CREDITO Y CAUCION S.A. DE SEGUROS Y REASEGUROS - 159 RUE ANATOLE FRANCE, CS 50118, 92596 LEVALLOIS-PERRET CEDEX, FRANCE with the contract number 385832 .

The Vendor reserves the right to modify the GTCS at any time without prior notice. These changes shall be reflected in the updating and dating of these terms & conditions. It is understood that these changes will only apply to Orders placed subsequently. It is therefore imperative that the Client consult the general and special T&C at the time of booking, in particular to ensure compliance with the provisions in force.

Vendor : SAS LA COMPAGNIE DE FRANCE, Puy du Fou 85590 Les Epesses, RCS LA ROCHE-SUR- YON 853 069 888, N° TVA INTRACOMMUNAUTAIRE FR 88 853069 888, Immatriculation au Registre des Opérateurs de Voyages et de Séjours : ATOUT FRANCE IM085220007.
Guarantor : ATRADIUS CREDITO Y CAUCION S.A. DE SEGUROS Y REASEGUROS - 159 RUE ANATOLE  FRANCE, CS50118, 92596 LEVALLOIS-PERRET CEDEX, FRANCE.
Assureur : ACM IARD SA, 4 rue Frédéric-Guillaume Raiffeisen – 67000 Strasbourg.

The GTCS and the execution of the Orders are governed by French law. Any dispute arising from the conclusion, performance, interpretation or termination of the Order shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the French courts, subject, where applicable, to the mandatory rules of the Client’s country of residence, in the event that the Client resides in a foreign state to which the Vendor directs its commercial activities.