currency
Any special IdeaMerge discount we apply is applied to the entire, tax-inclusive rate.
(Thus we effectively discount the tax as well.) And we do not require you to pay in full earlier than normal
to receive this discount.
Our motorhome and campervan rental
rates (apart from any special IdeaMerge discount) and policies match those of our vendor and therefore the rates
are calculated in Euros (EUR).
This means we do not inflate our rates to cover ourselves against the threat of
our home currency, the US Dollar (USD), declining versus the EUR.
Moreover, we do not impose a credit card transaction
fee.
And we do not truncate the exchange rate
(which is another way companies can favor themselves).
Furthermore, we use the
minimal retail exchange rate — alias the
"credit card" exchange rate
(as published
on www.oanda.com) —
to change from the vendor's currency into our currency
(USD) for actual charging.
Finally we present all this math in the detailed confirmation
voucher that we e-mail to you soon after booking the rental. …
In these and other ways we carefully save our clients from suffering
hidden costs.
reservation & downpayment
In accord with the automobile rental industry standard,
reservations may be made for a vendor's particular vehicle category
(what we might call a vendor's "group") only, not for a specific vehicle.
Which is to say,
although the various images, model numbers and vehicle specifications presented
throughout the IdeaMerge motorhome rental pages — especially on the
vehicle-specification pages — are carefully selected to accurately
and precisely indicate the vehicle that you will get, the vehicle model
(and layout) you get might not be identical to what is indicated by said
information.
In the very unlikely event that
a vehicle in the reserved category is not available upon the pick-up date, the
rental company reserves the right to substitute a comparable or larger vehicle
with the same equipment and the capacity to accommodate the number persons you have delineated (in terms of, say, adults and children) as being in your party. In this case there will be no additional charge for a larger
vehicle. However, the higher ancillary costs associated with a larger
vehicle — such as ferry charges,
tolls, and fueling costs — are to be borne by the customer.
And on the other hand, should a smaller vehicle be offered to and accepted
by the client upon pick-up, the difference in price between the two
vehicles will not be credited to the customer.
Note: The rental vehicles available through our
Netherlands vendor BW Campers tend to be slightly older than
the vehicles available through our
other European motorhome rental vendors (which other vehicles range from
brand new to no more than two model years old).
IdeaMerge charges a 20 percent downpayment (minimum EUR250)
upon confirming a customer's reservation.
The vendor calculates the cost of the rental by calendar days, i.e. regardless
of time of pick-up and return. Therefore both the pick-up day and the
return day count as a full day.
However, return is meant to occur by around 12 noon.
If without authorization the campervan or motorhome is kept beyond the agreed rental duration,
the client will be charged twice the normal rate of involved days.
balance
The balance is to be paid by credit card to the vendor upon pick-up.
cancellation fees
Cancellation 5 weeks or more prior to pick-up date: EUR250.
Cancellation 5 weeks or less prior to pick-up date: total rental amount.
No refunds are made for early returns.
changes
Any change to a booking — especially of the rental duration, and
whether requested before, during
or after the pick-up — is subject to
authorization by the rental company. Do not expect to be able to make
such changes upon the pick-up occasion.
A change may entail a change fee, the amount of which is
usually modest/nominal yet is generally commensurate with the degree to
which the change compromises the vendor's ability to rent out the vehicle.
Refunds are not offered for early return of the rental vehicle.
breakdown cover
The rental includes 24/7, multi-lingual, European-wide assistance service
in case of any major mechanical problem.
Once at a repair facility, the client should contact the vendor,
who will sort things out with the repair professionals.
The vendor will pay the repair facility directly for the cost of
the repair, or repay the client accordingly. All rentals include a substitute vehicle if the original
rental vehicle cannot be made operational within 48 hours.
extension or early return
Any extension of the rental duration (whether requested before
or after the pick-up) requires prior
authorization by the rental company. Refunds are not offered for early return of the rental vehicle.
If return occurs after the appointed return time,
200 percent of the normal rental rate will be charged for every extra
unauthorized day,
and the customer will assume
responsibility for claims made against the rental company by subsequent renters
due to consequent delay.
age and license
The minimum age limit for renters and other drivers of the rental vehicles
is only 19 years; the maximum
age limit is 75 years.
The vehicle may be driven only by the renter or by the additional,
qualified drivers specified in the rental contract.
There is no charge for these
additional drivers. Regardless of who is driving the vehicle,
the renter is liable for the operation of the vehicle.
Said drivers must possess a valid drivers
license.
Drivers must of course possess a valid drivers license
relative to the weight of the vehicle.
Most domestic licenses suffice for operation of the vehicles presented on
the IdeaMerge Website, for most of the vehicles are rated at 3500 kg or less.
Relative to vehicles exceeding this threshold, our online
software will usually elaborate —
but you the driver or drivers are obliged to check your licenses and the vehicle's
specs page in this important respect (the latter by clicking on the vehicle
image on the "Rates & Reservations" page or during the online reservation
process). Also see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driver's_license and, say,
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Driving_Licence_codes.
Regarding the vehicles rated at over 3500 kg
(i.e. 3.50 metric tons):
Almost all typical (i.e. class C) USA drivers licenses, for example,
suffice in this respect.
(In fact such licenses usually cover vehicles up to 13,000 kg.)
The same is true of, say, typical "old" British licenses
(i.e. class B issued prior to 1 January 1997).
But the typical new "European Union drivers license"
(i.e. class B) limits its holder to vehicles of 3500 kg or less; and as such,
a holder of an EU license must possess a class C license to operate in Europe
one of the European motorhomes which are rated at over 3500 kg.
On the pick-up occasion the vendor will not release a rental vehicle
to a party unless a driver among them is licensed to operate such vehicle.
IdeaMerge is not responsible if such licensed driver is not present
to operate the vehicle upon the pick-up occasion and throughout the duration
of the rental. No refunds will be extended to the client if such absence precludes
the actual use of the rental.
See our "Resources" page for a discussion of the international driving permit,
which is required by the Austria, Czech Repbulic, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.
forbidden use
The rental company does not allow the vehicle to participate in
motor sport events and vehicle tests; in the transport of inflammable,
poisonous, or otherwise hazardous materials; in the committion of revenue
offences and other illegalities, even if these are only punishable under
the laws of pertaining to the place of the offence; in subletting; and
in other kinds of utilization beyond the contractually agreed use,
especially in regard to physical locations not suited to driving.
The vehicle is to be handled in a careful and proper manner and must
always be properly locked. The relevant instructions for use, the technical
specifications, as well as the maintenance periods must be observed.
The renter is obliged to check regularly whether the vehicle is in a
roadworthy condition. Smoking is not allowed in the vehicles.
geographic limitations
The included insurance is effective throughout the entirety of Europe —
Western (including Scandinavia) and Eastern, and the UK and Ireland — except for Russia,
other former members of the USSR, and any regions experiencing general and
violent political crisis. You are welcome to transport your
rented vehicle by ferry and/or the Channel Tunnel.
Again, see our "insurance, etc."
page for more details concerning the included insurance.
pick-up and return
If you arrive via your own vehicle, you can
leave it with the vendor for the duration of your rental, free of charge;
the vendor will store it securely for you.
An EUR1000 security deposit
will be held on the customer's credit card
when the customer picks up the vehicle; i.e. a card
imprint will be taken, signed by the client for EUR1000, and authorized but
not actually charged.
This deposit covers vehicle damage,
traffic and parking violations, etc., and it will be freed to the
card in whole or part no less than 7 days after the client returns the vehicle.
However, if the rental duration is 15 days or longer
and the CDW Plus is purchased, the security deposit is reduced
(a) to zero if the client does not rent the GPS navigation system or
(b) to EUR850 if the client does rent the GPS navigation system.
Smoking is not allowed in the vehicles.
A thorough explanation and demonstration of the rental vehicle will be provided
upon pick-up. This orientation, together with completion of the relevant
paperwork, requires approximately one hour.
The vehicle will be delivered with an ample amount of motor fuel in the tank;
you should try to return it with this same amount.
The water tank, propane tanks,
and toilet chemical repository will be full; but you will not be
charged if they are returned less than full.
The interior and exterior
will be clean, and the toilet tank will be empty of waste. Likewise the vehicle
should be returned clean. Vehicles returned in an unclean condition will be
subject to a minimum EUR100 cleaning fee. If the camper is returned
with the grey and/or black water tanks not emptied, the cleaning fee will
be charged regardless of how clean the vehicle interior is.
Again, return is meant to occur by around 12 noon.
If without authorization the campervan or motorhome is kept beyond the agreed rental duration,
the client will be charged twice the normal rate of involved days
and the client will assume responsibility for claims made against the rental
company by subsequent renters due to consequent delay.
a slight disclaimer
IdeaMerge takes special care in representing
our vendors (i.e. the actual rental companies) so as maximally to
benefit you, our clients. Thus we present such information using
various careful emphases and an overall style which is decidedly
complementary to (i.e. in contrast with) the legalistic style
that of course constrains the actual terms and conditions
of our vendors. The information on the IdeaMerge Website is
therefore designed to resonate effectively and thoroughly with but
not be simply identical to those terms and conditions, which
terms and conditions nevertheless override the information presented by
IdeaMerge and are naturally subject to change without notice prior to the
rental pick-up occasion, on which occasion at the rental depot
the client will be obliged to sign and thus agree to them.
See the bottom of this page for a link to the BW Campers terms and conditions.
bw campers' terms and conditions
Click here for BW Campers' terms and conditions.
warning
Although motor travel in Europe is not generally considered prohibitively dangerous, there are, of course, associated risks — including death. For quantitative measures of these risks, please see the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT) http://www.asirt.org.
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