General terms and conditions
I. Scope of application
1. The general terms and conditions apply to contracts for in-patient treatment and to all other services rendered by Buchinger Wilhelmi.
2. Provisions to the contrary do not apply unless they are recognized expressly by Buchinger Wilhelmi in writing.
II. Conclusion of contract
1. A registration form and a request for advance payment will be sent by Buchinger Wilhelmi together with a written offer. After returning the registration form and making the advance payment, the contract shall take effect when the confirmation of reservation is sent by Buchinger Wilhelmi.
2. Visitors or accompanying persons may stay in the clinic for up to two nights in agreement with the Buchinger Wilhelmi reservation department and if a room is available. From the third night they will be treated as patients and will be charged the general rates. They will also be required to consult a doctor.
3. Only one package may be booked per stay. Unused services included in a package will not be reimbursed. The individual contents of the packages cannot be altered.
III. Cancellation/rescission
1. A stay may only be cancelled in writing.
2. In the case of a cancellation or change to a booking, Buchinger Wilhelmi shall be entitled to charge the following fees:
I: From 31 up to 15 days before the arrival date: 20 % of the price of the package stated in the confirmation of reservation.
II: From 14 up to 8 days before the arrival date: 40 % of the price of the package stated in the confirmation of reservation.
III: From 7 days before the arrival date: 80 % of the price of the package stated in the confirmation of reservation.
IV: In the event of late arrival, early departure or no-show, 100 % of the package price.
3. In case of non-compliance with the clinic rules, Buchinger Wilhelmi shall be entitled to terminate the treatment at the patient’s cost.
4. Appointments for individual treatments must be cancelled by the patient by noon/12.00 pm on the previous day. After that time, they will be invoiced even if the patient fails to make use of them.
5. Meals that are not taken will not be refunded.
IV. Services, rates, payment
1. In the course of the booking process, an advance payment must be made. The amount of the advance payment is set out in the written offer.
2. The remainder of the price of the package is due for payment three weeks before arrival at the latest. If the amount has not been received by Buchinger Wilhelmi by the arrival date, it must be paid on arrival.
3. A credit card must be presented on arrival as a guarantee.
4. The invoice must be paid before departure.
5. All services shall be invoiced in accordance with the currently valid price list and prices issued by Buchinger Wilhelmi. Earlier rates and conditions lose their validity. Buchinger Wilhelmi reserves the right to make changes.
6. The majority of rates are inclusive. Rates subject to VAT are automatically adapted should the underlying VAT rate change.
7. If a new calendar year starts between the time of booking and the stay, the price of the booking may change.
8. In the case of in-patient treatment in connection with the services of a German statutory health insurance, the insurer’s cost agreement and the completed Buchinger Wilhelmi registration form with a legally binding signature must be submitted to the clinic in writing 21 days before treatment starts at the latest. Otherwise the patient will be admitted and later invoiced as a self-paying patient.
9. The patient will be invoiced directly according to the rates specified in the price list even if the invoice is presented to an organization providing financial support or to a private insurance company for refund.
10. To ensure that in-patient treatment is carried out properly, Buchinger Wilhelmi reserves the right to engage the services of an interpreter at the patient’s expense, should the attending doctor or the clinic management establish such a necessity.
11. It is not possible to bill services based on the German medical fee schedule.
V. Arrival/Departure
1. A room is guaranteed in the booked room category, but patients do not have the right to a specific room number.
2. The booked room will be available from 4.00 pm on the day of arrival.
3. The room must be vacated by 11.00 am on the day of departure, otherwise this day will be charged additionally.
4. The reservation department must be contacted for extensions to a stay beyond the reserved and confirmed duration as well as for all other changes to the booked package.
5. A valid passport/ID as well as a valid credit card must be presented on arrival.
VI. Personal items/liability
1. Buchinger Wilhelmi cannot accept any liability for personal items, in particular jewellery, documents or cash. Buchinger Wilhelmi recommends using the built-in safe in the bedroom.
2. The use of the parking garage and parking spaces are at the owners’ own risk.
3. A strict ban on smoking and on the consumption of alcohol is enforced at Buchinger Wilhelmi throughout the clinic premises as well as on walking tours and in patients’ rooms. The use of e-cigarettes etc. is also forbidden. There is a smokers’ corner on the parking deck.
Patients have responsibility for ensuring that this ban is also observed in their room by third parties. Should patients violate this ban, the clinic is entitled to charge a special cleaning fee to the amount of 500 €. The same applies if third parties smoke in a room with the knowledge or negligent ignorance of the patient. The patient is entitled to prove that no or little damage has been caused.
The smoke detectors are highly sensitive smoke alarms that can register both cigarette and tobacco smoke and immediately trigger an alarm. In the case of a smoke alarm, all costs of evacuation, calling the fire brigade and all follow-on costs shall be charged to the perpetrator.
4. The lighting of open fires (e.g. candles or similar) is prohibited in the clinic building.
5. Patients should abstain from using smart devices, in particular smart glasses, throughout the clinic grounds. Buchinger Wilhelmi reserves the right to prohibit unauthorised recordings.
VII. Final provisions
1. The place of payment and performance is Überlingen on Lake Constance.
2. The place of jurisdiction is Überlingen on Lake Constance.
3. The law of the Federal Republic of Germany applies.
4. Should any of the general terms and conditions be or become invalid or void, this shall not affect the validity of the remaining terms and conditions. In all other cases, the statutory provisions apply.
Clinic Rules Lake Constance
In a place like Buchinger Wilhelmi where the focus is on rest and relaxation, consideration of others and a certain degree of order are essential for the good of the community and the success of your treatment.
1. For medical reasons, certain rest times must be observed during fasting. To ensure that all guests/patients are able to rest at midday and at night, please divert all incoming phone calls between 12.00 and 2.00 pm and between 11.00 pm and 7.00 am to your personal voice box that is configured by default. Outgoing calls are possible at all times, including during rest periods. All external doors are locked at 11.00 pm.
2. Telephoning with mobile phones is not permitted on the clinic premises or during excursions or walking tours. Mobile phone calls may be made only in your own room with the windows closed (to avoid disturbing your fellow guests). We ask you to sign a corresponding agreement upon your arrival.
3. As your responsiveness may be affected during therapeutic fasting in individual cases, some activities (swimming in open water, horse riding or driving) should only be performed under certain conditions. You should therefore consult your attending doctor beforehand.
4. If a guest/patient is absent from Buchinger Wilhelmi overnight or wishes to stay away from the clinic for a number of days, permission from your attending doctor is required.
5. The minimum age for treatment at Buchinger Wilhelmi is 18 years. In exceptional cases, young people aged 16 years or over can be treated if they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and if this has been discussed with our management and doctors in advance. Therapeutic fasting is not possible for people aged under 18 years.
6. A strict ban on smoking and on the consumption of alcohol is enforced at Buchinger Wilhelmi, both throughout the clinic premises as well as on walking tours and in guests/patients’ rooms. Guests/patients have responsibility for ensuring that this ban is also observed in their room by third parties. There is a smokers’ corner on the parking deck.
7. Please do not wear sports clothes or bathrobes in the salon or restaurant. You are requested to wear European swimwear (bikini, swimsuit, bathing trunks) in the swimming pool area. For medical reasons, we prefer our guests to wear light sports clothing (e.g. tracksuit) during physical exercise (e.g. aerobics, walks). We ask guests to refrain from covering their face (face veil) at Buchinger Wilhelmi.
8. Your sense of smell is extremely sensitive during fasting: artificial perfumes (all of which nowadays comprise synthetic fragrance molecules) can be extremely disturbing when fasting, even those we normally like. For this reason, we ask you to avoid using perfume if possible during group activities in the recreation rooms or gyms as well as on walks.
9. Pets are not allowed.
10. Buchinger Wilhelmi is situated on sloping terrain and is therefore only suitable to a limited extent for guests/patients who have mobility problems or are reliant on a wheelchair.
11. Compliance with the regulations set out in the clinic rules is of vital importance for the success of your treatment at Buchinger Wilhelmi. This also applies to the instructions given by medical staff, nursing staff and other senior personnel.
12. In case of repeated non-compliance with these rules or instructions, the clinic management reserves the right to terminate your stay. Any resulting damages will be invoiced to you.
Please read through these conditions for your stay at Buchinger Wilhelmi carefully one more time. You have been sent our clinic rules with your confirmation of reservation. We assume that by signing the corresponding agreement, you agree to these rules.