IMPORTANT
LEGAL
INFORMATION
Because We Like Transparency
.
Terms & Conditions
As STGA 1) Green Badge Guides and members of HOSTGA 2), our rates are based on their recommendations.
All guide rates are in GBP (£-Sterling) and do not include overnight accommodation or meals for guides and travel expenses to starting points outside the Inverness/Nairn area, unless stated otherwise. Entrances to paid venues or attractions and fees for ferry passages etc are not included in guide fees. Our guides are granted free entry to most attractions in Scotland.
The rates for private tours with our own 3) or a hired vehicle include the fees for the tour guide/driver as described above, vehicle rental, mandatory “hire and reward” insurance and fuel.
Rates for Tours Starting from Inverness or Nairn
Tour Type
Half Day
up to 4 ½ hours
Full Day
up to 9 hours
Multi Day
English
£220.00
£345.00
German
£260.00
£395.00
Driver Guide 3)
£545.00
£775.00
by individual arrangement
Extras – if applicable
Lunch
during full/multi day tours
Dinner
during multi day tours
unless in the group hotel or on arrival/departure
Bed & Breakfast (Single Room)
unless in the group hotel or on arrival/departure
or pick-up/drop-off from/at the ferry or airport
at cost / cap £18.00
at cost / cap £28.00
at cost / cap as agreed
Reimbursement of Travel Expenses and Travel Time
Arrival/departure by public transport/taxi
Arrival/departure in own vehicle
Surcharge for a travel time (door-to-door) of over 5 hours
at cost
£ 0.45 per mile - plus any parking fees
Half Day Rate
Overtime and Unsociable Hours
For Half Day Tours (4,5 hrs) or Full Day Tours (9 hrs) exceeding the planned maximum duration, the following surcharges will be charged for each hour or part thereof:
between 07.00 and 23.00 h
between 23.00 and 07.00 h
£45.00
£60.00
Half Day Tours ending after 13.30 h will be charged at the Full Day rate.
Public Holidays
For tours on a public holiday, we reserve the right to apply the following surcharges:
Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, Boxing Day, and
New Year’s Day
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve/Hogmanay
50% of the agreed rate
100% of the agreed rate
Bespoke Itineraries & Travel Arrangements
Flat rate per day of travel
£120.00
1) Scottish Tourist Guide Association
2) Highlands of Scotland Tour Guide Association
3) Maximum four passengers, with luggage | Six passengers, without luggage | Surcharge for larger vehicles
Rates
Bespoke Half, Full or Multi Day Tours
With our own or a hired Vehicle
-
A 25% non-refundable deposit is required to secure your booking.
-
The remaining balance of 75% must be paid no later than 60 days prior to tour.
-
For bookings made within 60 days prior to start, the tour must be paid in full.
Walking Tours - Web Bookings
-
Tour must be paid in full at the time of booking.
Walking Tours - Bespoke Arrangements
-
Agreed rates must be paid in full within 30 days after receipt of invoice.
-
Agreed expenses/charges, if applicable, will be invoiced separately after completion of the tour. Depending on final arrangements, an advance payment to cover agreed expenses/charges may be required.
Half, Full or Multi Day Tours - Step-On
-
Agreed rates must be paid in full within 30 days after receipt of invoice.
-
Agreed expenses/charges, if applicable, will be invoiced separately after completion of the tour. Depending on final arrangements, an advance payment to cover agreed expenses/charges may be required.
Payment Deadlines
Unless stated otherwise, invoices are due after 30 days of the invoice date.
Payment Methods
Payment in full in GBP by bank transfer or via debit/credit card.
Alternative methods of payment are subject to prior agreement.
Cross-Border Payments
If paying by international bank transfer, the applicant will cover all transfer fees (Expense Code OUR).
If the customer chooses a different option, any transfer fees incurred will be charged separately (GBP 7-10 for payments from Europe or GBP 10-15 for payments outside Europe).
Late Payments
In the event of late payment, we reserve the right to charge statutory interest and to claim debt recovery costs in accordance with the EU Late Payment Directive.
Deposits & Payments
Walking Tours – Web Bookings
Up to 24 hours prior to tour start
Less than 24 hours prior to tour start
£0.00
100% of the agreed rate - plus third party costs*
Walking Tours – Bespoke Arrangements
14 days or less prior to tour start
48 hours or less prior to tour start
50% of the agreed rate - plus third party costs*
100% of the agreed rate - plus third party costs*
Half and Full Day Tours
14 days or less prior to tour start
48 hours or less prior to tour start
50% of the agreed rate - plus third party costs*
100% of the agreed rate - plus third party costs*
Multi Day Tours
30 days or less prior to tour start
14 days or less prior to tour start
50% of the agreed rate
(Daily rate times number of days booked)
plus third party costs*
100% of the agreed rate
(Daily rate times number of days booked)
plus third party costs*
*) Cancellation costs or processing fees from third-party providers incurred for the specific booking or agreed fees for Bespoke Itineraries & Travel
Arrangements will be charged in addition.
Force Majeure
Force majeure is defined as an event outside of our business, caused by elementary natural forces or by third party actions, which, according to human understanding and experience, was unpredictable, could not be prevented or made harmless by economically tolerable means, even with the utmost care, and also is not to be accepted because of its frequency.
If such an event occurs before the start or during the tour and we are forced to curtail, change or cancel the agreed services, the customer is not entitled to claim compensation for losses resulting from curtailment, change or cancellation.
In addition, the above cancellation policy applies. Any variations are entirely at the discretion of the service provider and need to be explicitly confirmed at the time of booking.
Cancellation by the Service Provider
Should we be forced, for reasons other than force majeure, to curtail or cancel the agreed tour, we will, to a reasonable extent, assist in finding a suitable replacement. Price negotiations with the replacement person are the sole responsibility of the customer. The client is not entitled to claim compensation for losses that arise as a result of these negotiations.
Cancellation Fees
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend that guests arrange suitable travel, medical and cancellation insurance prior to their journey.
Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance
STGA Green Badge Guides and HOSTGA Members carry full Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance cover, by virtue of their membership.
Insurance
Dietary, Mobility & Special Requirements
If the customer or any member of the group has specific dietary requirements, a physical limitation, disability or medical condition which may hinder their ability to travel on our tours, we must be informed about such a requirement at the time of the booking enquiry, so that the necessary arrangements can be made.
If the customer fails to inform us about specific requirements, we cannot be held responsible for any cost or inconvenience incurred if we are unable to accommodate the customer or a member of the group. In the event of information not being made available, no refunds will be given for sections of the itinerary that cannot be completed due to these limitations.
Maximum Number of Participants
For guided hikes and city walking tours lasting several hours, we recommend a maximum number of 16 people. This is to maintain safety and excellent tour quality standards for guests on our tours.
Changes to the Itinerary
In the interest of an efficient planning and an accurate delivery of services, any changes to the itinerary must be reported immediately.
If there are concerns about the safety of the participants before or during the implementation of the program or a specific program part, we are, in consultation with the customer, authorized to adjust the itinerary accordingly.
Timed/Limited Access to Sites and Splitting of Larger Groups
For security or operational reasons, many sites have restricted the maximum visitor numbers per group and/or have set specific visiting times for groups that need to be booked in advance. In addition, some sites have introduced guidelines for non-in-house guides that restrict or even prohibit guiding activities on site.
Groups visiting an attraction are often split into smaller groups who may be guided by a solely English-speaking on-site guide. Although some attractions employ language guides, their availability cannot be guaranteed. Furthermore, we can only accompany one group at a time to translate the tour, which can prove unsatisfactory for larger groups with a high number of guests with limited knowledge of the English language.
In the interest of customer satiscfaction, we are happy to discuss the planned itinerary in advance. In doing so, we can identify program items where such restrictions may represent a problem and, if necessary, offer a suitable solution or alternative.
Coach Tours – Tools and Technical Equipment
The client must provide a seat with a seat belt for the guide and fully functioning technical devices (microphone, PA system and CD player). In the event of a missing or faulty technical device, we will inform the operator immediately. If the tour continues despite missing or faulty technical equipment, we reserve the right to charge a surcharge of 100% of the agreed fee until the omission is rectified.
Vouchers and Booking Confirmations
All vouchers, booking confirmations and other necessary information must be provided to us at least 14 days before the start of the tour.
Applicable law and place of jurisdiction
These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with substantive Scottish law. Subject to mandatory jurisdictions provided by law the exclusive place of jurisdiction for all legal proceedings shall be Inverness or Edinburgh. This shall also be the place of performance, and the place of debt collection for customers domiciled abroad.
V1.4 1/2022