General Terms & Conditions

General Terms & Conditions

This original English version of these terms and conditions may have been translated into other languages. The translated version is a courtesy and office translation only and you cannot derive any rights from the translated version. In the event of a dispute about the contents or interpretation of these terms and conditions or inconsistency or discrepancy between the English version and any other language version of these terms and conditions, the English language version to the extent permitted by law shall apply, prevail and be conclusive. The English version is available on our website or shall be sent to you upon your written request.

These terms and conditions, as may be amended from time to time, apply to all our Goldentimers services and websites, directly or indirectly made available online, through any mobile device, by email, in person or by telephone. By accessing, browsing and using any of our Goldentimers websites, or any of our applications through whatever platform (hereafter collectively referred to as the ‘website’) and/or by applying for participation in any of the activities listed, you acknowledge and agree to have read, understood and agreed to the terms and conditions set out below.

The Goldentimers trade name is property of Rudvans bvba. The website(s), the pages, the content and infrastructure of these pages, and the online service provided on these pages and through the Goldentimers website(s) (the ‘service’) are owned and operated by Rudvans bvba ("Rudvans", "Goldentimers","us", "we" or "our") and are provided for your personal, non-commercial use only, subject to the terms and conditions set out below.

Scope of our Service

Through the website(s), Goldentimers provides an online platform through which you can find information about road trips, tours and related activities, specialized (local) tour operators, car rental services and accommodations, as provided by our partners worldwide.

Goldentimers has a broad experience and know-how in road trips and promotes qualified operators that organize and administer local tours. These designated operators may act only as agents for ‘other providers’ (i.e. rental cars, accommodation, activities, …), and the other providers are solely responsible and liable for providing their respective services. 

As a visitor of the website(s) you can apply to participate in the described tours through the International Booking Platform. All such applications are subject to the final approval by Goldentimers and/or its (local) partner(s). From the point at which you make your application, we act as an intermediary, transmitting the details of your application to the relevant operators and/or other local provider(s).

When rendering our services, the information that we disclose is based on the information provided to us by the (local) partner network. Although we will use reasonable skill and care in performing our services, we will not be in a position to verify it all, and cannot guarantee that all information is accurate, complete or correct, nor can we be held responsible for any errors (including manifest and typographical errors), any interruptions whether due to any (temporary and/or partial) breakdown, repair, upgrade or maintenance of our website or otherwise for inaccurate, misleading or untrue information or non-delivery of information.

The itineraries presented on the website(s) may be subject to modification and change. Every reasonable effort will be made to operate the tours as planned, but alterations may still occur after final itineraries are sent. We and/or our (local) partners reserve the right, without penalty, to make changes in the published itinerary whenever we deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience or safety of the participants.   

Neither we nor our (local) partner(s) will be liable for any air carrier’s cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable ticket to or from the departure/arrival city. Baggage and personal effects are at all times the sole responsibility of the participant.

Participants to the tours listed on the website(s) are responsible for obtaining any documents required for their participation in the tour(s) such as valid passport, all visas, vaccination certificates, and any other documents. Failure to obtain documents does not negate the terms and conditions and any (extra) costs incurred will be the participant’s responsibility.

Our services are made available for personal and non-commercial use only. Therefore, you are not allowed to re-sell, deep-link, use, copy, monitor (e.g. spider, scrape), display, download or reproduce any content or information, software, products or services available on our website(s) for any commercial or competitive activity or purpose.

Participants

Participants to our road trips must be in good physical and mental health. We reserve the right to accept or decline applications at our sole discretion. Especially for tours in exotic and/or remote areas we encourage participants to consult a doctor for specific medical advice about any activities or destinations.

Prices

Our prices are competitive and include value added taxes. Standard prices shown are per person and are based on two persons sharing (standard room and car). Separate rooms are optional at (single) surcharge. The rates are based on tariffs, currency values and third-party charges as of publication date and are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. While we will do everything possible to maintain the listed price, if it is necessary to levy a surcharge we reserve the right do so and notification will be given at time of final invoicing. In case of a price decrease we maintain the right to subtract any administrative costs involved.

Starting from the standard rate, the calculation of the final price with all optional extra’s and discounts is clearly shown for each tour, as well as an overview of what’s included and what’s not. 

Costs that are beyond the scope of the tour(s), such as air flights and related fees, passport, visa and permit expenses, medical expenses and immunizations, medical coverage on location, (baggage, accident, hospitalization, repatriation, cancelation, …) insurances, any meals or any services that are not specifically noted as included in the tour(s), all personal expenses, … are to be paid directly to the suppliers and are never included in the prices listed.

Whether the (local) operator or other providers have charged you directly, or when we are facilitating the payment, the local partners are at all times responsible for the collection, withholding, remittance and payment of the applicable (local) taxes due to the relevant tax authorities.

Payments, Cancellations and Refunds 

Together with the application a deposit has to be paid. (Only) upon receipt of the full deposit the application will be processed. When the reservation is confirmed by Goldentimers, the balance payment(s) will be invoiced in accordance with the payment terms of the (local) operator. However, the final payment is due no later than 90 days prior to the departure of the tour. Reservations may be cancelled by us if full payment has not been received 90 days prior to the departure date of the tour. For applications made within 90 days of the departure of the tour, full payment is required within one week after the date of confirmation of your reservation. If for any reason your application is not withheld, you will receive a notification from us and the amount of your deposit will be paid back to you in full.

All cancellation notices must be received by us in writing. If cancelled by the participant(s) 90 days or more prior to the departure of the tour, an administrative fee equal to the deposit amout (5%) will be charged. Charges within the Cancellation Penalty Period (i.e. for cancellations that occur less than 90 days prior to the departure of the tour) are as follows:

-        45-89 days prior to the departure: 50% of the total amount of the tour

-        44 or fewer days prior to departure: 100% of the total amount of the tour

Any revisions made within the Cancellation Penalty Period, such as change in departure date or choice of tour, are subject to the cancellation policy. Any airline tickets issued and/or any agreements entered with other providers, are subject to those providers no-show, cancellation and refund policy.     

Arriving late or leaving a tour in progress, for any reason whatsoever, will not result in a refund, and no refunds will be made for any unused portions of a tour.

We reserve the right to cancel a tour because of inadequate enrollment or because of good-faith concerns with respect to safety, health, or welfare of the participants. If a tour is cancelled prior to departure, Goldentimers will provide the participants with a full refund of monies paid to Rudvans, except in the event the cancellation is due to a significant event that makes it infeasible to operate the tour as planned, in which case Goldentimers and/or its (local) partner(s) will provide the participants with a credit toward a future tour equivalent to the amount paid. If a tour in progress is cancelled, the participants will receive a prorated refund based on the number of days not completed on the tour. Goldentimers has no responsibility for any expenses, including non-refundable expense, incurred by the participants in preparing for a cancelled tour or for any additional arrangements made by the participants.  

Disclaimer

By registering for a tour, the participant acknowledges that he/she is aware that tours such as he/she is undertaking involve a potentially dangerous activity, with a risk of illness, injury or death which may be caused by accident, forces of nature, or by willful or criminal conduct of third parties or by terrorism. The participant(s) further acknowledge that weather conditions may be severe, adverse and/or unpleasant and that medical services and facilities may not be readily available or accessible or consistent with the standards one is used to.

Rudvans and its directors, officers, employees, re-sellers, representatives, agents, successors, affiliates, and (local) partners will not be held liable for (i) any damage to, or loss of, property or injury to, or death of, persons occasioned directly or indirectly by an act or omission of any provider, including but not limited to any defect in any vehicle operated or provided by such provider; and (ii) any loss or damage due to delay, cancellation, or disruption in any manner caused by the laws, regulations, acts of failure to act, demands, orders, or interpositions of any government or any subdivision or agent thereof, or acts of God, strikes, fire, flood, war, rebellion, terrorism, insurrection, sickness, quarantine, epidemics, theft, or any other cause(s) beyond their control. The participant waives any claim against Rudvans and/or its (local) partner(s) for any such loss, damage, injury, or death. 

Subject to the limitations set out in these terms and conditions and to the extent permitted by law, Rudvans shall only be liable for direct damages actually suffered, paid or incurred due to an attributable shortcoming of our obligations in respect to our services, up to an aggregate amount of the aggregate cost of your reservation whether for one event or series of connected events.

However and to the extent permitted by law, neither we nor any of our directors, officers, employees, re-sellers, representatives, agents, successors, affiliates, (local) partner(s) or others involved in creating, sponsoring, promoting, or otherwise making available the website(s) and its contents shall be liable for (i) any punitive, special, indirect or consequential loss or damages, any loss of production, loss of profit, loss of revenue, loss of contract, loss of or damage to goodwill or reputation, loss of claim, (ii) any inaccuracy relating to the (descriptive) information (including rates, availability and ratings) as made available on our website(s), (iii) the services rendered or the products offered by the (local) partner(s) or the provider(s), (iv) any (direct, indirect, consequential or punitive) damages, losses or costs suffered, incurred or paid by you, pursuant to, arising out of or in connection with the use, inability to use or delay of our website(s), or (v) any (personal) injury, death, property damage, or other (direct, indirect, special, consequential or punitive) damages, losses or costs suffered, incurred or paid by you, whether due to (legal) acts, errors, breaches, (gross) negligence, willful misconduct, omissions, non-performance, misrepresentations, tort or strict liability by or (wholly or partly) attributable to the (local) partner(s) and/or provider(s) or any of our other partners (including any of their employees, directors, officers, agents, representatives or affiliated companies) whose products or service are (directly or indirectly) made available, offered or promoted on or through the website, including any (partial) cancellation, overbooking, strike, force majeure or any other event beyond our control.

Privacy and Cookies

Goldentimers respects your privacy and is committed to protect any personal information you give us. However, should you disagree with our Privacy and/or Cookies Policy as described hereafter, you should discontinue using our services.

When you apply for a participation you will be asked for things like your name, address, email address, telephone number and other relevant information we have to pass on to our (local) partner(s) and/or other providers to conclude your application. Also, when you visit our website, our IT system may collect certain technical information like your IP address, which browser you are using and information about your computer's operating system, application version, language settings and pages that have been shown to you. If you're using a mobile device, it may also collect data that identifies your mobile device, device-specific settings and characteristics, and latitude/longitude details.

Besides passing on your personal information and booking details to relevant partner(s), we may also use these for customer service (to reach you when and where needed), account administration and our own marketing activities as permitted by law. We do not sell your personal data to third parties. Our IT system makes use of technical, functional and analytical cookies for improved web-performance. We do not make commercial use of cookies. Since we integrate social media in our website there will be social media plugins present.

You have the right to review the personal data we keep about you. You can request an overview of your personal data by emailing us at katevn@goldentimers.be putting 'request personal data' in the subject line. You have to include a copy of your passport to help us prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing your personal data.

Intellectual Property Rights

Unless stated otherwise, the software required for our services, or available on, or used by, our website(s) and the intellectual property rights (including the copyrights) of the contents and information of and material on our website(s) are owned by Rudvans and/or its partners.

Rudvans exclusively retains ownership of all rights, title and interest in and to (all intellectual property rights of) the look and feel (including infrastructure of) the website(s) on which the service is made available and you are not entitled to copy, scrape, (hyper-/deep) link to, publish, promote, market, integrate, utilize, combine or otherwise use the content (including any translations thereof) or our Goldentimers brand without our express written permission. To the extent that you or one of yours would (wholly or partly) use or combine our (translated) content or would otherwise own any intellectual property rights in the website or any (translated) content, you hereby assign, transfer and set over all such intellectual property rights to Rudvans. Any unlawful use or any of the aforementioned actions or behavior will constitute a material infringement of our intellectual property rights (including copyright and database right).

Goldentimers and/or its (local) partner(s) reserve the right to take photographs, videos and related materials during the tour and to use these for promotional or commercial use. By registering for a tour and/or by sending photographs, videos or other tour materials of any form to Goldentimers, the participant(s) agree to allow his/her likeness and all these materials to be used by Goldentimers for promotional or commercial use without compensation.    

Miscellaneous

To the extent permitted by law, these terms and conditions and the provision of our services shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Belgian law and any dispute arising out of these general terms and conditions and our services shall exclusively be submitted to the competent courts in Antwerp, Belgium.

If any provision of these terms and conditions is or becomes invalid, unenforceable or non-binding, you shall remain bound by all other provisions hereof. In such event, such invalid provision shall nonetheless be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, and you will at least agree to accept a similar effect as the invalid, unenforceable or non-binding provision, given the contents and purpose of these terms and conditions.