Preamble: Definitions
Client: Refers to any natural or legal person who contacts Mrs. Astrid CATERNET to benefit from a service provided by her for non-professional purposes.
Order: Refers to a purchase made by the Client for services offered by Mrs. Astrid CATERNET on the Website.
Website: Refers to the website accessible at the URL address www.vipguideprovence.com.
1. Seller
Mrs. Astrid CATERNET
Sole trader, registered under SIRET no. 833100670 00011
Address: 9 Villa Toscane, 485 Chemin de la Commanderie Saint-Jean de Malte, 13080 Aix-en-Provence, France
Email: contact@vipguideprovence.com
Website: www.vipguideprovence.com
Phone: +33 6 99 29 59 00
2. Scope of Application
These General Terms and Conditions of Sale (GTC) apply to all service sales offered by Astrid CATERNET on the website www.vipguideprovence.com.
Astrid CATERNET reserves the right to amend these GTC at any time, subject to publishing the changes on the website.
The GTC are accessible at all times on the website.
3. Availability, Booking / Order and Follow-up
Bookings are made via email or telephone and confirmed by Astrid CATERNET by any means.
Astrid CATERNET commits to sending the Client, within 72 hours, an email confirmation of availability, a proposed date, and a detailed quote for the services listed on the website.
Any order implies acceptance of the prices and service descriptions available for sale.
Placing an order implies full, unreserved acceptance of these GTC, which take precedence over any other document.
4. Prices
Prices listed on the website are on request and expressed in euros, net and exempt from VAT (Article 293B of the French General Tax Code).
Astrid CATERNET may modify her prices at any time, but will honor the price confirmed at the time of booking.
A 30% surcharge applies to tours conducted on Sundays and public holidays.
The following services listed on the website are to be paid directly by the Clients to the corresponding service providers, with whom Clients will have a direct contractual relationship:
- Transportation
- Food and beverages
- Personal purchases made by Clients
- All activities outside the guided tour service
- Accommodation
At the Client’s express request and by mandate, Astrid CATERNET may verify availability of such third-party services free of charge.
These services must be paid directly by the Client to the service providers.
Astrid CATERNET reserves the right to verify children’s age by requesting ID.
5. Payment Terms
Booking is considered final when the Client returns the signed quote with the note “Approved and accepted the General Terms and Conditions of Sale”, along with a deposit of:
- 30% of the total price for catalogue-guided tours
- 50% for customized services, groups or corporate clients
Payment is made by bank transfer.
If the service is booked less than 14 days before its execution, full payment is required at the time of booking.
The remaining balance is payable in cash on the day of the service (up to €1,000, or €15,000 for Clients residing outside France).
Cheques are not accepted.
A confirmation email or letter will be sent once the deposit is received.
No service will be rendered if the deposit has not been paid in full accordance to the conditions above.
6. Cancellation Terms and Fees
6.1 Cancellation by Astrid CATERNET
Astrid CATERNET agrees to be present on the scheduled date, time and meeting point.
In case of force majeure or exceptional circumstances beyond her control, an alternative may be proposed.
If the Client refuses the alternative, no refund will be issued.
If Astrid CATERNET cancels the service, a new date will be proposed.
If the Client refuses, the deposit will be refunded as per Article 1590 of the French Civil Code.
Outdoor tours will take place even in rainy weather.
6.2 Cancellation by the Client
Orders cancelled before the service date (including weekends and holidays) may incur fees.
As per Article L.221-18 of the French Consumer Code:
“The consumer has a period of fourteen days to exercise their right of withdrawal from a contract concluded remotely, without giving any reason.”
This period begins on:
- The contract conclusion date, for service contracts.
The Client must send a written withdrawal request, using the form provided with the detailed quote.
The deposit will be fully refunded.
However, if the service is fully delivered before the withdrawal period ends, the Client will not benefit from any right of withdrawal.
The Client must arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to finalize the cash payment.
If the Client does not show up within 20 minutes of the scheduled start time, the tour is cancelled with no refund of the deposit or payment made.
7. Liability and Insurance
Astrid CATERNET is not liable for any incidents, accidents, thefts or losses occurring during tours.
Clients are strongly advised to take out personal liability or travel insurance.
Astrid CATERNET is not liable for issues arising from contracts between the Client and third-party service providers listed in Article 4.
Astrid CATERNET holds professional liability insurance covering the financial consequences of claims related to her guiding services, with a reputable insurer.
8. Penalty Clause
In the event of a cancellation not covered under Article 6.2 or no-show after the 20-minute grace period, Astrid CATERNET may request a penalty fee of 10% of the total booking value.
9. Data Protection – GDPR
Personal data collected by Astrid CATERNET is protected under French Law No. 78-17 of January 6, 1978 (amended) and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – Regulation (EU) 2016/679.
Clients may exercise their right to access, rectify or delete their data by sending a registered letter or email to:
- Address: as listed in Article 1
- Email: contact@vipguideprovence.com
Clients agree to the use of their data for service promotion unless they explicitly object.
Data will be retained for 5 years.
10. Governing Law – Jurisdiction – Mediation
Contracts between the Client and Astrid CATERNET are governed by French law.
Any dispute arising from the execution, interpretation, validity, or termination of these GTC or the related services, not resolved amicably, will be submitted to the competent French courts.
Clients are informed of the option to resort to free mediation, particularly under the authority of the Consumer Mediation Evaluation and Control Commission, in accordance with the Consumer Code.