Tours Terms of Service

 

Tours Terms of Service


By booking service with Stefano Rome Tours and through this website, you agree to have Read, Understood, and fully Accept All Terms of Service listed below.

It is your responsibility to ensure that services and information provided by Stefano Rome Tours on this website meets your precise requirements.

*  If you disagree with any parts of our terms of service, please do not proceed to use this website.

 

OUR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE:


Stefano Rome Tours is committed to providing our clients with reliable, punctual service, professional, experienced and courteous driver guides, and comfortable deluxe vehicles.

Once you submit your reservation for service provided on this website, you are legally bound to a contract with Stefano Rome Tours.

* Please allow up to 48 hours to receive correspondence from our office. We answer emails in order they are received and during our office hours. If you are a current client and your email requires immediate attention, please indicate in the subject line: URGENT.

We do not accept reservations made by telephone, through concierge, or via your driver guide. All confirmations must be made through the company via email, never through your chauffeur or hotel concierge.

* If you do not receive an email from us within 48 hours, please check your spam folder or any other filters that may have prevented our email from reaching you, and contact us immediately to let us know you have not received our correspondence. If we do not hear from you we assume you have received our correspondence and are in agreement with it.

* Tours and services must be booked online via this website in order for service to be be secured and provided.  Email inquiries and/or correspondences do not serve as actual reservations, nor do they guarantee availability. Availability changes depending on actual reservations and confirmations received throughout the day.

 

PAYMENT OPTIONS:


Payment for tours can be made in Euro funds at the end of your journey directly to your driver, or you may prepay in advance via PayPal or Credit Card online when you Confirm your Tour.

 

CANCELLATION POLICY

We kindly ask that cancellations be made at least 7 days in advance so we can rebook your service and your reserved driver does not lose work for that day. Cancellations must be made via email and confirmed by us in order for the cancellation to apply. We do not accept cancellations by telephone, text message, or 3rd party.

** PREPAID SERVICES can only be Refunded the Net Rate we receive from your prepayment. Net Rate is the actual service price minus the fees retained by PayPal/Credit Card that are not reimbursed to us in case of refunds. We can only refund the portion we receive from the PayPal/CC company.


WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A PRIVATE TOUR IN ITALY:

A private tour with Stefano Rome Tours includes a comfortable deluxe climate-controlled vehicle driven by a professional chauffeur licensed by the municipality of Rome, Italy’s VAT Tax, Fuel cost, Insurance, Airport Parking fee, and applicable toll fees.

 

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN A PRIVATE TOUR IN ITALY:

Gratuities, Meals, Entrance tickets to monuments and museums, private licensed guides, walking tours (unless otherwise specified), and any personal guest expenses.

 
OUR STEFANO ROME TOURS DRIVERS:

Our tour drivers are selected based on experience, professionalism, reliability, and spoken English. Our drivers are drug-free (with periodical testing for drugs and alcohol to ensure full legal compliance and safety), full background checks, and perfect safe driver records.

Your driver will provide basic information during your tour but is not a licensed tour guide, therefore their knowledge of history and culture is limited.

* As per Italian Laws, Drivers cannot accompany guests inside Monuments, Squares, Museums, Churches or to sightsee away from the vehicle.

* Italy has strict laws protecting official licensed guides making it unlawful for Tour Drivers to provide guests commentary while outside the vehicle. In order to be in compliance with Italy’s laws, Tour Drivers cannot personally accompany or tour our guests inside monuments, museums, churches, or piazzas. Only official licensed Tour Guides can accompany guests into Monuments, Churches, Squares, and Museums. Failure to comply with these laws results in steep fines and suspension of our professional licenses. Your driver will be obliged to remain with the vehicle while you sightsee.

 

EACH DRIVER AND TOUR SERVICE IS AN INDIVIDUAL AND UNIQUE EXPERIENCE, therefore your experience will not be like the experience of others. Anything aside from our commitment to Service cannot be considered part of the standard service we provide.

* If you have difficulty hearing your driver speak, please ask your driver to speak louder.
Vehicles are not equipped with microphones or audio systems. Local authorities deem the usage of microphones and audio systems by Drivers an unnecessary distraction and a safety concern, therefore only licensed tour guides or licensed tour companions are lawfully permitted to use microphones and audio systems inside the vehicle.

For anyone who is hearing impaired or has trouble hearing the driver speak from the back of the vehicle, please let us know prior to booking your tour so you can be informed of your options.

 

SHORE EXCURSIONS:

We strongly suggest you do not alter the recommended itinerary for your Shore Excursions as these itineraries are carefully crafted by local experts who have complete knowledge and experience of the geography, distance, local traffic conditions, and driving time. Any alterations to the original itinerary may result in your inability to return to your ship on time. If you request changes made to your Shore Excursion itinerary that is not recommended by Stefano Rome Tours and your driver, you accept complete responsibility for all and any consequences of these changes result in late arrival to your ship, and Stefano Rome Tours is therefore completely exempt of any liability as a result of clients’ change in recommended itinerary.

Pick-up time for shore excursion, unless otherwise indicated in your reservation, is 8 AM. Disembarking later than 8 AM will take away time from your sightseeing opportunities.  The price of the tour service will not be amended if the tour time is shortened due to delays on behalf of the customer.

If you are experiencing delays disembarking your ship for your tour, please contact us immediately so your driver will be informed and will wait for your arrival. Wait time is 1 hour past the scheduled pick-up time, after which without information from the customer regarding delays, the driver will be released from duty due to a customer no-show.

 

ADDING ADDITIONAL PASSENGERS TO YOUR TOUR:


We can only accept passengers for shore excursions that are booked in advance and that are included in the actual reservation. 

Any last-minute additions to the number of passengers must be submitted at least 48 hours in advance so we can update your reservation, revise the new price of the tour, and assign a proper size vehicle for your group.

In order to comply with Port Authority and security, we can only transport the exact number of passengers declared in the reservation voucher we have to present when asked by security upon entrance.

Last-minute tour participants are advised that only visitors with entry tickets purchased in advance and with the printed ticket vouchers will be able to enter the Colosseum and Vatican Museums without waiting in general ticket lines. Any last-minute participants who are not in possession of their advance no line tickets may either have to wait in long lines or not be able to enter.

 

ALTERING THE ORIGINAL ITINERARY OF YOUR DAY TOUR OR SHORE EXCURSION:

The itinerary suggested in the tour descriptions on the Stefano Rome Tours site and recommended by your driver guide are intended to optimize your sightseeing opportunity and make the most out of your limited time on the tour.

 

DAY TOURS BY CAR:


If deviations from the agreed-upon itinerary and schedule result in delays and the tour time being extended, you accept full financial responsibility for the extra fees that will accrue at 50 EUROS for each additional hour past the original tour time.

To avoid fees for unintentionally extended tours, we strongly recommend you follow the suggestion of your driver guide so your tour continues on recommended schedule and you optimize your sightseeing experience.

Of course, if you desire to extend your day tour past the agreed-upon time, please let your driver know. For each additional hour of the tour, 50 EUROS will be added to the final price of the tour which shall be paid in full in Euro funds to your driver at the end of the tour. For example, if your tour is scheduled to end at 5 PM when you are dropped off at your hotel, but you extend your tour and arrive at your hotel at 8 PM, that is an additional 3 hours at a total of 150Euros in addition to the originally quoted price of the tour.

 

IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:


Please do NOT  leave valuables or personal items such as purses, day bags, wallets, cameras, or other irreplaceable items behind in the vehicles. 

Stefano Rome Tours assumes NO responsibility for lost or stolen personal items left behind in the vehicles.  Vehicle break-ins, while rare, can happen. Your driver will be with the vehicle most of the time, but for the times when he is assisting clients away from the vehicle, it is important to leave NOTHING of value behind, and any day bags not in continuous use must be stored inside the trunk or luggage space inside the vehicle.

When sightseeing away from the vehicle or lunching, mind your valuables and do not leave them exposed or within easy reach of pickpockets.  Large sums of money, passports, and credit cards should be secured in a money belt or kept safe close to your person.  Wallets should not be carried in back pockets, and purses should be kept closed and close to your person at all times.  Please use common sense when traveling to prevent loss or theft.

 

LUGGAGE:

Maximum luggage capacity per vehicle is up to 6 standard-size check-in suitcases and 6 small carry-ons.  Standard size suit cases weigh 50 lbs (23 kg) and do not exceed 62 inches (157 cm) in a combination of length + width + height

If traveling with luggage on Tours please specify the exact number of large suitcases and carry-ons in order to be provided proper size vehicle for you. If the exact number of large and small luggage pieces is not specified, it will be assumed that you will bring 1 standard size suitcase and 1 carry-on per person and provide a vehicle accordingly.

Failure to provide the exact number and size of suitcases and carry-ons prior to placing a reservation will result in our inability to provide the correct size vehicle and/or inability to accommodate all luggage together.
If bringing oversized or overweight luggage, please must advise the company prior to booking services to determine if all luggage will fit into the standard vehicles. Failure to advise the company of the precise number and size of luggage may result in our inability to accommodate all luggage together in 1 vehicle and if needed, a 2nd vehicle may be required at expense of the customer.

Unless advises otherwise, it will be assumed all luggage will be standard size as indicated above.

Tours for up to 3 passengers are issued a sedan-type vehicle. If you are a 3 person party bringing extra luggage that you believe may not fit into a sedan-type vehicle, an upgrade to a minivan vehicle will be required at additional cost to cover the expense of a large vehicle.  Failure to request a vehicle upgrade to accommodate extra luggage will result in being provided a standard sedan vehicle.

 

Religious themed Vatican Tours

Tour guides licensed by the local municipalities are required to possess extensive knowledge in areas of History, Architecture, and Art.

Licensed tour guides do not provide religious (Christian or Catholic) themed tours of the Vatican or elsewhere.

If you prefer to have a Vatican tour that includes religious content and commentary we recommend that you make separate and independent arrangements through the Vatican or your local church, pastor, or bishop.

 

WINE TASTING TOURS

* Please consume wine and alcohol responsibly during your tour:

Our tours offer many opportunities for wine tasting, and you may also enjoy wine or alcoholic beverages with your lunch as you wish. Stefano Rome Tours accepts no responsibility for the amount of wine and/or alcoholic beverages our clients consume during the tour.

Please be advised that consuming an excessive amount of wine and alcoholic beverages may interfere with your enjoyment of the tour. If as a result of the consumption of wine and alcoholic beverages you request to terminate the tour early and return to your hotel, you accept financial responsibility for the original quoted amount of full-day tour. The tour will not be discounted if you wish to leave early under these circumstances.

 

Touring with Children

Tours offered are geared toward adult participants and interests as the content and commentary provided during chauffeured tours and private guided tours inside the Colosseum/Roman Forum and Vatican Museums may include subjects such as History, Ancient Rome, Architecture, Culture, and other subjects that children may or may not find interesting.  The tours provided are not geared toward children nor can they be altered to make them more enjoyable to children's interests.

If you are interested in “kid friendly’ activities we are happy to suggest other venues you and your family can explore separately during your stay in Rome that is most suitable and interesting for children. The tours we offer are rich in historical and cultural content most understood and appreciated by adults who share these interests.


CHILD SEATS

We provide child seats or booster seats upon request that are up to European safety standards. The parents or legal guardians are the only parties authorized to install the child seat or booster seat inside the vehicle and to ensure that each child is safely secured in their safety seat before departing. 
 
Drivers, as non-parents and non-legal guardians, cannot perform this safety function on behalf of the parent or legal caretaker. Drivers will not proceed to depart until the child or children are secured inside their respective safety seats. By requesting a child seat or booster seat, you agree to comply with these terms.

 

* UNFORESEEABLE DELAYS:

We do not assume any responsibility for delays due to traffic and weather conditions, protest marches, strikes, parking difficulties at the airport, mechanical problems, political unrest, and any situations beyond our control.


AMBIENCE INSIDE YOUR VEHICLE:

If you have preferences regarding A/C, heat, music, or typically experience motion sickness while driving, please feel free to let your driver guide know immediately so he/she can accommodate your needs.

HANDS-FREE CELLPHONE USE FOR DRIVERS AT WORK:

According to Italian law, professional drivers are permitted to use their hands-free cellphones for work-related issues. From time to time your driver may need to make and answer calls as it is part of our job.

NO SMOKING, EATING, OR DRINKING FROM CUPS/OPEN CONTAINERS INSIDE THE VEHICLES:

In order to maintain a fresh and clean vehicle for all our clients to enjoy throughout the day, smoking, eating, or drinking from open containers that are susceptible to spillage (soda cans, coffee cups) is not permitted inside the vehicles. Bottled beverages that can be closed tightly with a cap are welcome. Please treat the vehicle with respect as to not cause any damage to it.

 

OFF THE BEATEN PATH ACCOMMODATIONS:

If you book an off-the-beaten-path hotel, B&B or rental apartment be aware that we may not be able to provide door-to-door service. In many areas of Rome including piazzas and streets it is either illegal or impossible to park or pass through with our vehicles. In such cases, we will do our best to pick you up and drop you off as close as possible to your place of accommodation.

 

ITALY HIGHWAY SPEED LIMITS:

Please be aware that legal speed on Italy’s highways/motorways may be higher than in many other countries. Your driver will safely obey the legal speed as electronic speed checks are implemented throughout the state to catch speeders.

If Italy’s legal speed makes you feel uncomfortable please let your driver know if it is safe to drive at a slower speed, but please keep in mind that driving too much below the speed limit becomes a traffic hazard as other vehicles try to overtake slower moving vehicles.

* We do not tolerate inappropriate, abusive, rude, harassing, or disrespectful behavior by any passenger towards our chauffeurs and staff either in person, over the telephone or by email. We reserve the right to refuse service at any time (including during transfer service) to any person we deem behaving inappropriately, is intoxicated by alcohol or illegal substances, excessively disturbs the chauffeur while driving in ways that could potentially present a safety risk.

 
* USE OF THIS WEBSITE:

Stefano Rome Tours website contains materials owned or licensed by Stefano Rome Tours, including but not limited to written content, design, photography, videography, graphics and layout. Reproduction or redistribution of any content in full or in part on this website is prohibited other than solely for personal and non-commercial use on your own personal computer or mobile device.

* For additional information that may be helpful to our clients, links to other websites may be available on this website and blog. These links are not intended to be endorsements of those websites, nor do we accept any responsibility for content or activity on linked websites.

* Linking to this website from any other website is strictly forbidden without prior written consent from Stefano Rome Tours.

 

PRIVACY POLICY

The information our clients are required to share with Stefano Rome Tours (full name, email address, contact telephone number, flight information, etc) is protected and strictly private to be used only as necessary information in order to provide adequate service. It will not be shared with outside parties, made public by any means, or used in any way not originally intended.

* If you have any questions regarding our Terms and Conditions or there is something you do not understand, please feel free to ask us via email and we will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.