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These General Terms and Conditions apply to bookings and services offered by Gate of Nations GmbH, based in Kiel, Germany, hereinafter referred to as “Gate of Nations.”
Gate of Nations offers inbound travel services in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, including tailor-made holidays, private tours, cultural and heritage travel, business and exhibition trips, accommodation, transfers, guided tours and related travel services.
The applicable contractual terms depend on the nature of the booking:
Package travel: Where Gate of Nations acts as the tour operator, the statutory provisions governing package travel apply.
Individual travel services: Where Gate of Nations acts as an intermediary, the contractual relationship and responsibilities will be explained before booking.
Business-to-business bookings: Bookings made by travel agencies, companies and other commercial partners may additionally be governed by a separate written agreement.
Mandatory statutory rights remain unaffected by these Terms and Conditions.
Travel enquiries and quotations are subject to availability and confirmation.
A binding contract is concluded when Gate of Nations accepts the booking in accordance with the booking process and the customer receives confirmation.
The booking confirmation will specify the agreed services, travel dates, number of participants, total price, payment schedule and any special conditions.
Customers are responsible for checking the booking confirmation and informing Gate of Nations promptly of any errors or discrepancies.
Any changes to confirmed bookings require agreement between the parties, subject to applicable statutory rights.
All prices, applicable taxes and any additional charges will be stated in the quotation or booking confirmation.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the following payment schedule applies:
3.1 Deposit
A deposit of 30% of the total booking price is payable within seven calendar days after booking confirmation.
The deposit is credited towards the total price. Its treatment in the event of cancellation is governed by the applicable cancellation provisions and mandatory law.
3.2 Final Payment
The remaining 70% must be received no later than 30 calendar days before the commencement of the booked services, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
3.3 Late Bookings
For bookings made less than 30 calendar days before commencement, the full amount may be payable immediately upon confirmation, as specified in the booking confirmation.
3.4 Payment Methods
Accepted payment methods will be indicated during the booking process or in the invoice. These may include bank transfer, Visa, Mastercard and PayPal.
Any additional transaction or currency-conversion charges must be disclosed where required by law. Consumer payment surcharges may not be imposed where prohibited by applicable law.
3.5 Late Payment
In the event of late payment, Gate of Nations may exercise its statutory rights, including applicable rights to interest, compensation and cancellation of the contract where legally justified. Any required reminders or notices will be provided in accordance with applicable law.
Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing by email or through another documented communication channel specified in the booking confirmation.
The effective cancellation date is determined in accordance with applicable law and the relevant contract.
4.1 Package Travel
For package travel, customers may withdraw before the start of the trip subject to the applicable statutory provisions. Gate of Nations may claim reasonable cancellation compensation where legally permitted.
Any agreed standard cancellation charges must be reasonable, transparent and legally valid. They must reflect factors such as the time remaining before departure, expected savings and the possibility of reselling or otherwise reusing the services.
The applicable cancellation schedule, if any, will be provided with the booking documents.
4.2 Individually Booked Services
For individual services or intermediary bookings, cancellation conditions depend on the applicable contract, the supplier’s terms and mandatory statutory provisions. These conditions will be communicated before the booking is confirmed.
4.3 Refunds
Where a refund is due, it will be processed within the applicable statutory deadline. Refunds for package travel will be made within the period required by German law.
Any legally permissible cancellation compensation will be deducted from the refund where applicable.
Requests to change travel dates, destinations, accommodation, participant numbers or other arrangements are subject to availability and the relevant contractual conditions.
Changes may result in additional costs, including supplier charges, revised accommodation rates or transport costs. Any additional charges will be communicated before the change is accepted.
If a requested change cannot be accommodated, the original booking remains subject to its existing terms unless the parties agree otherwise or statutory rights apply.
Changes initiated by Gate of Nations will be handled in accordance with the applicable contract and statutory requirements.
Gate of Nations may cancel or modify a booking only where permitted by the applicable contract and law.
Where package travel is concerned, any cancellation due to insufficient participation or unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances will be subject to the applicable statutory conditions and notification deadlines.
If Gate of Nations is legally required to refund payments, the refund will be made within the applicable statutory period.
Where appropriate and legally permissible, Gate of Nations will endeavour to offer suitable alternatives or revised arrangements.
Unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances may include severe natural disasters, serious security risks, war, significant government restrictions or other events meeting the relevant legal criteria.
The legal consequences depend on the circumstances and the type of booking. For qualifying package travel, customers may have statutory rights to terminate the contract without cancellation compensation when the relevant legal conditions are met.
Gate of Nations will communicate material disruptions as promptly as reasonably possible and will cooperate with customers and service providers to identify appropriate solutions.
This section does not exclude or restrict any mandatory statutory rights.
Customers are responsible for providing accurate booking information and ensuring that they hold the passports, visas, permits and other documents required for their travel.
Visa assistance, where offered, does not guarantee the issuance of a visa or permission to enter a country.
Customers should check applicable entry requirements with the relevant authorities before departure.
Customers must inform Gate of Nations of relevant dietary requirements, mobility limitations, accessibility needs or other special requests before the booking is confirmed. Such requests are subject to feasibility and confirmation.
Customers are expected to behave respectfully towards guides, staff, other travelers, local communities and service providers.
Some services may be provided by independent hotels, airlines, transport operators, guides, attractions or other suppliers.
Where Gate of Nations acts solely as an intermediary, the identity of the supplier and the nature of Gate of Nations’ role will be communicated as required by law.
The supplier’s contractual terms may apply to the individual service. However, this section does not exclude any responsibility or liability that Gate of Nations has under applicable law.
Where Gate of Nations acts as the tour operator for a package, it remains responsible for the proper performance of the package in accordance with the applicable statutory provisions.
Gate of Nations is responsible for its contractual obligations in accordance with applicable German law.
For package travel, the statutory provisions concerning the tour operator’s responsibility for the proper performance of the package apply.
Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or limits liability where such exclusion or limitation is prohibited by law, including liability for injury to life, body or health caused by negligence, or liability for intentional misconduct and gross negligence where applicable.
Any other limitation of liability may apply only to the extent permitted by mandatory law.
Customers are strongly advised to arrange suitable travel insurance, including cancellation and curtailment cover, medical expenses, emergency assistance and baggage protection, as appropriate for their trip.
Insurance requirements and recommendations do not affect any statutory rights or obligations of Gate of Nations.
Gate of Nations GmbH maintains insolvency protection for package travel with R+V Allgemeine Versicherung AG, in accordance with § 651r of the German Civil Code (BGB).
In the event of the insolvency of Gate of Nations GmbH, this protection covers eligible claims for reimbursement of payments made for package travel services that are not provided due to insolvency, subject to the applicable statutory provisions and the terms of the relevant security certificate (Sicherungsschein).
Where the package travel contract includes transportation, the protection also covers the legally required return transportation and, where applicable, accommodation until return transportation can take place.
The applicable security certificate will be provided to travelers in accordance with German law.
Further information is available at:
https://gate-of-nations.org/insurance/
Flight information or links to third-party flight booking websites displayed on the Gate of Nations website are provided for informational purposes unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Where Gate of Nations does not sell, arrange or process the flight booking, the flight contract is concluded directly between the customer and the relevant provider.
The provider’s terms apply to that flight booking. Gate of Nations does not assume responsibility for the provider’s independent pricing, availability or performance, except to the extent responsibility arises under applicable law.
The presentation or sale of other travel services in connection with flight links will be handled in accordance with the applicable package travel and linked travel arrangement rules.
Customers should contact Gate of Nations as soon as reasonably possible if a service does not meet the agreed arrangements.
During a trip, customers should notify Gate of Nations or the designated local contact promptly so that reasonable corrective action can be considered.
For package travel, statutory complaint, assistance and remedy rights remain unaffected.
Contact:
Gate of Nations GmbH
Birkenweg 20
24107 Kiel, Germany
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://gate-of-nations.org
These Terms and Conditions are governed by German law, subject to any mandatory consumer protection provisions that apply to the customer.
Any jurisdiction agreement is effective only to the extent permitted by applicable law. Consumers retain any mandatory rights concerning the competent courts and applicable law.
If an individual provision of these Terms and Conditions is invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain effective to the extent permitted by law.
Invalid provisions will not automatically be replaced by provisions that disadvantage the customer or circumvent mandatory statutory protections.
Changes to these Terms and Conditions apply to future bookings when properly incorporated into the contract.
Changes to an existing booking or contract require agreement or another valid legal basis. Mandatory statutory rights remain unaffected.