updated January 2024
Des’s Adelaide Pty Ltd (DA) / Des’s Minibus (DMB) reserves the right to amend prices or itinerary, (i.e. alter travel routes or itinerary) due to road, weather or traffic conditions; or if required by the size, behaviour or other condition of the group.
All of our services are calculated by either the distance travelled (transfer) or the length of time a vehicle is booked (hourly). The actual rate is calculated electronically and is further dependent on the type of vehicle you require and the suburbs you are travelling to and from. While in the vast majority of cases we are able to provide you with a fixed price quote for your particular journey, there are instances where the actual cost will vary.
Some examples of such variations include stops at your request, unplanned stops, change in route, waiting time on arrival and a change in the number of passengers.
Further variations include the amount of luggage you intend to carry in a vehicle, which may require hiring a trailer.
All reservations for a transfer include 15 minutes’ grace from the time the bus arrives or time of booking, after which a waiting time charge applies. The exact amount varies with the type of vehicle you have requested.
It is recommended that Passengers re-confirm their booking at least 24 hours prior to departure.
If you have pre-paid for a service for a particular time frame or distance, and that time or distance is exceeded, the driver will ask for payment of the extra service provided.
DA / DMB accept no responsibility for any loss or damage to personal belongings or luggage or for any injury or loss of any type whilst on tour (please read section ‘Lost Property Procedure’ below for more information).
DA / DMB recommend that all passengers have personal travel insurance to cover loss or damage to property, illness, injury or not being able to travel on the confirmed date of departure.
Please be aware that while we would like to cater for your every need, not all requests can be accommodated.
All our buses are fully equipped with seat belts.
As per Australian Road Rules, seat belts must be worn at all times.
All passengers must be seated and wearing seatbelts when the vehicle is moving. This is for your safety in the event of an accident.
Passengers are not permitted to place any part of their body outside the vehicle, whilst the vehicle is moving.
All our buses are deemed as public transport vehicles and therefore child seats are not required.
If you prefer the usage of a child seat you need to bring your own, as Des’s Minibus does not provide child seats.
Please note that no personal items can be kept on the bus between transfers – unless prior arrangement – and we ask our customers to take all their belongings, including child seats, when leaving the vehicle.
To ensure that you are able to relax and enjoy your tour, and to ensure the wineries are able to provide the best possible experience, our groups need to be booked with wineries.
We can book them for you as this is part of our service; simply let us know where you want to go and we will try to get them booked for you (all bookings are subject to availability at wineries).
If we cannot get you in to your choice them can find a similar experience for you. Some venues require pre-payment via credit card from the customer in order to make a booking. We can make that payment for you, the cost would then be included in your tour cost.
Your name and contact phone number, and in rare cases the email address, may be required to make the winery booking and Des’s may provide this information to the winery to secure the booking only.
We may not book small groups; e.g. groups of 4 or less, or where the wineries being visited are staging a major/ticketed event.
Alternatively, if you prefer, you can book them yourself while researching where you would like to tour. If you arrange your own itinerary, it needs to be sent to [email protected] at least one week prior to departure, or even earlier if possible. Des’s will review the itinerary and we may suggest some changes where we know it will improve your experience. Des’s will confirm your booking with each winery.
We encourage responsible behaviour, particularly when passengers have been consuming alcohol before they board the bus.
During a wine tour we recommend that you drink plenty of water between each winery.
Our business relationship with all wineries requires that no alcohol is consumed on the bus during a wine tour. In any event, the consumption of alcohol in vehicles is illegal without the appropriate liquor license.
DMB vehicles are not licensed, therefore no consumption or the carrying of open alcohol containers is permitted on buses.
The carrying of wine/alcohol purchased during a tour is exempt. Bottles or cans purchased during a tour must be sealed for the entire duration of the tour. The driver has the right to terminate a tour if alcohol consumption or unruly behaviour occurs on the bus.
No alcoholic beverages from other venues are permitted into Cellar doors or on winery grounds
DA/DMB reserves the right to decline any intoxicated passengers to board the bus. This also applies to wineries who may decline entrance to their premises. The driver may terminate the tour and/or remove individual/s from the bus.
Please note that many wineries will not accept groups that have come off a licensed bus so there may be limitations on which venues you could visit.
Therefore, generally Limited Liquor Licenses are rarely accepted on Wine/Beer Tours. For any other tours or A-to-B transfers, Des’s Minibus can apply for a liquor license.
We require at least 30 days’ notice, otherwise late fees apply.
Additional costs of $170.00 for the Liquor License apply and the cost of the bus hire increases by 20%.
A refundable bond of $500.00 (unless otherwise advised) is also required and must be paid by credit card when making the booking. This bond will be refunded once the driver has agreed that the travel has been completed successfully, without any damage or cleaning required to the bus.
If a liquor license is requested within two weeks’ (14 days’) notice, respective costs increase from $170.00 to $220.00.
Last-minute applications for liquor licenses may not be allowed and are at the manager’s discretion.
Passengers on licensed buses must not carry more than two cans of alcohol with them (unless otherwise advised). No glass bottles are allowed. Any alcoholic beverages need to be stored in a small soft-pack esky or bag when not consumed.
Charters for Hens and Bucks tours require a bond of $200.00, payable upon booking. Provided the bus has been left behind in a clean, tidy condition the bond will be refunded the following business day.
In case the bus has been left behind in a condition that required cleaning/repairs, the full bond may be retained. Additional fees may apply at the manager’s discretion if the vehicle is severely befouled and/or damaged.
Please read section ‘Befouling / Cleaning / Damages’ below for more information.
A befouling fee will apply to passengers who cannot control bodily functions.
Passengers are requested to remove any rubbish from the bus or place in bin supplied at the door.
A cleaning fee will apply if passengers spill drinks / food or leave rubbish behind for the driver to clean up. Please respect the condition of the bus for the next passengers.
Passengers are reminded that any unacceptable behaviour, i.e. oral abuse or bodily harm, will be treated strictly in accordance of the law; damage fees will apply.
The driver reserves the right to terminate a charter, if any actions are deemed threatening or dangerous to the driver or other passengers. The driver is authorised to have an unruly passenger who is threatening or placing the driver or passengers in a dangerous situation removed. The matter may be reported to the Police or relevant authority if deemed necessary by the driver or management.
The befouling fee starts from $100, depending on the degree of cleaning required. Similarly DA/DMB may contact you to recover any cost for commercial cleaning or repairs where damage to a vehicle is caused by you or one of your guests.
DA/DMB reserves the right to charge the credit card used for your booking with the appropriate amount required for cleaning without re-confirming with the client beforehand.
No smoking is permitted on any of our buses. It is against the law in South Australia to smoke in Public Transport Vehicles.
Cancellations up to one week (7 days) before the booking – Full Refund.
Cancellations less than 7 days up to 24 hours before travel date – 50% refund of all monies paid.
Cancellations notified on the day of booking – No refund.
All transport bookings require payment prior to travel and payments can be made via debit/credit card (MasterCard, Visa and Amex) over the phone, via EFT or a business cheque by arrangement (no personal cheques accepted).
All transfers require full payment upon booking, unless otherwise advised. We also accept Cabcharge for selected transfers.
All customised charters and tours require a deposit payment upon booking with balance payable at least two weeks prior to travel, unless otherwise advised. If a charter is booked within 6 days or travel, full payment is required upon booking.
Please note that we do not accept any cash payments on the day of travel.
Voucher codes must be used in accordance with the details on the voucher. Vouchers may well have special conditions on them; e.g. offer not available on public holidays or special event days. You must mention the voucher at the time of making the booking.
Vouchers can only be used on new bookings. They cannot be exchanged for cash.
Any original voucher must be handed over to the driver on the day. If no voucher can be provided by the customer on the day, the full transport price will be charged.
If you have lost items on the bus, please contact our operators immediately. Please be aware that we have over 60 buses in our fleet who are constantly moving throughout Adelaide during the day/night. In order for us to find your item we need accurate information – if possible please provide the following details:
The booking number
The bus type, or driver’s name
Date and time of transfer
Addresses of pick up and destination
Description of the lost item
Best contact number or email
The more information we have the easier it is for us to find your lost item. Our drivers bring in items they find on the bus whenever they head to the depot – which can be a few days after your transfer.
If you have lost a smart phone, it has been proven that phones can be easily located if you have installed a GPS App.
Complimentary Airport Transfer:
