Platform booking fee: everything you need to know in 2 minutes

Why a booking fee?

KayakSemois-Ardenne is an online booking platform that connects kayaking and canoeing enthusiasts with accredited local providers in the Belgian Ardennes. Like any intermediary platform (think Booking.com for hotels, or GetYourGuide for activities), we apply a commission of 10% on the provider's base rate. This amount funds all the digital services you use when you book with us.

This commission is included in the price shown on our website. There are no hidden fees. The price you see is the price you pay, all in.

What the platform fee actually covers

• Secure online payment via Bancontact / bank card (SSL technology, PCI DSS compliance, Mollie integration)
• Real-time availability management: checking kayak stock by date, preventing overbookings
• Automatic confirmation system by email (instant delivery of your booking voucher with the details of your trip)
• Customer support and handling of modification or cancellation requests
• Live hydrological data: Semois water level, flow rate, kayak weather and navigability alerts updated every 6 hours
• Technical maintenance of the platform, secure hosting, security updates
• SEO and digital marketing that lets local providers be visible without their own advertising investment

How is your total price calculated?

The calculation is simple and fully transparent. Let's take a concrete example with a booking of 2 kayaks on the Membre–Vresse route for 2 adults.

Why does the online deposit match the commission exactly?

This technical choice is deliberate and protects both parties. By setting the online deposit at the exact amount of our platform fee:

• The provider receives exactly their usual rate from the customer on site, without having to deal with complex calculations.
• The customer never pays more than the displayed price: the sum of the two payments (online + on site) is strictly equal to the total announced price.
• The booking is legally secured: paying a deposit constitutes a contractual obligation that is enforceable against both parties.

Your rights as a customer

Transparency on the final price

In accordance with European Directive 2011/83/EU on consumer rights, the total price you pay is communicated to you clearly and legibly before you confirm any order. The booking summary systematically breaks down:

• The total price of the service (all fees included)
• The amount of the booking fee paid online
• The balance to be paid on site to the provider

Instant confirmation and traceability

As soon as your online payment is validated, you automatically receive a booking voucher by email containing:

• The complete summary of your booking (date, route, number of kayaks)
• The provider's name and contact details
• The exact amount to hand over on site (shown in bold)
• A unique booking number for identification on site

Protection in case of cancellation

If the descent is cancelled for reasons beyond your control (river flood, administrative closure, dangerous weather conditions), the platform fee is refunded to you in full. If you cancel of your own accord, the platform fee is non-refundable (it pays for services already performed: availability check, sending confirmations, blocking the slot).

🛡️ Official ban = automatic refund. If navigation is prohibited by a decision of the authorities (government or municipal decree, administrative closure of the river by the SPW, flooding, drought or pollution), the trip becomes impossible for a reason entirely beyond your control. In that case, the platform fee is refunded to you automatically and in full — with no action required on your part: we initiate the refund as soon as the ban is published.

Booking through our platform vs. booking directly: what do you gain?

Some providers accept bookings by phone or email. Here is what the KayakSemois-Ardenne platform gives you on top, for a surcharge of 10%:

• ✅ Availability verified in real time (no risk of double booking)
• ✅ Instant confirmation by email (no waiting for a callback)
• ✅ Secure online payment via Bancontact (Mollie, PCI DSS certified)
• ✅ Semois hydrological conditions available before you book (level, flow rate, kayak weather)
• ✅ Enforceable booking voucher (legal document in case of dispute)
• ✅ Customer support in case of a problem with the provider
• ✅ Access to the loyalty programme KayakSemois-Ardenne (points and stackable benefits)

In short, the platform fee gives you the peace of mind of a guaranteed, secure and documented booking, while supporting the local providers who do not have the resources to develop their own digital infrastructure.

Our partner providers: selected local professionals

KayakSemois-Ardenne works exclusively with providers who are accredited, insured and trained in river rescue. Each partner provider has been selected according to strict criteria:

• Official accreditation issued by the French-speaking Federation of Water Sports (FFSN) or an equivalent body
• Civil liability insurance covering recreational water activities
• Compliant equipment: regularly serviced kayaks and canoes, approved life jackets
• Staff trained in aquatic first aid
• Compliance with the regulations of the Semois river (minimum flow rates, authorised navigation zones)

This rigorous selection partly justifies our platform fee: we invest in verifying and monitoring these partnerships to guarantee you a quality and safe experience.

How do our providers receive their income?

Partner providers receive their usual rate directly from you, on site. KayakSemois-Ardenne does not collect money on the provider's behalf and does not withhold any part of the price of the service. The commission is charged upstream (at the time of online payment) via the 10% price markup that you accepted when booking.

This model guarantees that the provider receives exactly their announced rate and that you have no nasty surprises about the amount requested on site.

Example calculations by group size

Frequently asked questions about the booking fee