Booking, confirmation/invoice and tickets
A deposit and a completed online booking form are required to reserve a holiday. Please ensure that the title, initials or forenames and surnames given on the booking form match those on your passport. This is because we make your travel reservations using this information and any inaccuracies will cause problems at a later date. We will send you a confirmation/invoice summarising the arrangements made on your behalf, the outstanding balance and the date by which it must be received by us. Check these details carefully and contact us immediately if there are any inaccuracies. For bookings made more than 2 months before departure we may write to you again around this time to remind you of certain points concerning your holiday. Final holiday documentation is usually sent out around 2 weeks before departure, although this does depend on how far ahead and the type of holiday booked. For escorted group bookings we send out Eurostar tickets, whilst other tickets are given out by your Tour Manager at check-in.
Foreign Office advice
Global and political situations can and do change. Your safety is our first consideration, so if the Foreign Office advises against travel to a certain country, we will act on this advice. The Foreign Office issues regular advice and updates. You can obtain this information by phone on 0870 606 0290, on Ceefax, or by visiting
www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougoPassports & travel documentation
Please note that you are entirely responsible for ensuring that everyone in your party has the necessary correct and up-to-date personal documentation before you start the holiday. We do not accept any liability if you or any member of your party is refused entry onto any transport or into any country due to failure on your part to carry correct documentation. If failure to have any necessary travel or other documents results in fines, surcharges or other financial penalty being imposed on us, you will be responsible for reimbursing us accordingly. For British citizens, a standard 10-year British Passport is required for all holidays which must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned date of return travel. If your passport expires before this, or if your passport is endorsed in any way, it may still be acceptable, but you should contact your local passport office or the consulate or embassy of the country/countries you plan to visit/transit through, for detailed advice. Customers applying for a first British passport should allow at least six weeks to obtain one as they are now required to attend a personal interview with the Passport Office. Customers renewing their passport should allow a minimum of two weeks. However, in all cases, please apply as far ahead as possible in order to allow time for unexpected delays.
Visas
We will advise British Citizens with a British passport at time of booking of any visa requirements. If you have a British passport issued outside of the UK or if you are not a British Citizen, you must check immigration requirements with the relevant embassy or consulate of the country/countries that you plan to visit or transit through.
For each of our holidays we make it clear whether British Citizens require a visa to enter the country or countries included in the holiday. The countries for which a visa is needed by British Citizens holding a British passport are listed below, along with details of how a visa may be obtained.
Russia - A Double Entry visa is required for British Citizens on our 'Trans-Siberian Express' holiday. Visas may be obtained in person or by post from the Russian Consulate in London or Edinburgh, prices start at £55 for a double entry visa. Alternatively, our local agent can obtain them at an extra charge - please contact us for details.
Please note that all visa information is correct at the time of producing these web pages, but requirements may change and we recommend that you check the latest position in good time before your departure.
Insurance and holiday duration
It is a condition of booking that you take out sufficient and appropriate travel insurance cover. We recommend you do this at time of booking so that your deposit is recoverable in the event of a cancellation covered by the policy. To take advantage of our insurance, please see the 'Insurance' section of the website and make your request when booking. If you take out your own cover you will need to advise us of the Insurance Company, the policy number and the 24-hour emergency telephone number. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance cover you purchase is suitable and adequate for your particular needs and destination(s) you are travelling to. We do not check alternative insurance policies. The duration of the holiday on the website includes the day of departure and day of return and is the period to be used for insurance purposes. Read your policy details carefully and take them with you on holiday. Should you choose to extend your holiday (either at the start or the end of your holiday), you will need to extend the duration of your insurance cover.
Disabilities, medical conditions and mobility
Due to the design of some trains and nature of some of our group holidays we regret that some of our tours are not suitable for the disabled traveller. Certain holidays can also be physically demanding. Please let us know if you or anyone in your party suffers from any medical condition or physical disability which may affect your holiday arrangements or has any health or fitness concerns which may affect your ability to cope with the holiday before any booking is made. Help us to help you choose the right holiday for your level of health and fitness. If you have any concerns whatsoever about the suitability of one of our holidays then please feel free to discuss this with our reservations team. Our goal is to ensure all our customers enjoy their holiday to the full.
Health
The Department of Health's leaflet (T7.1) "Health advice for travellers" is available at Post Offices, by phoning 0800 555777 or online at
www.dh.gov.uk, showing health requirements and advice for the countries you are visiting. We advise you to check with your doctor in good time prior to your departure as to which inoculations are necessary. For European holidays, you should obtain the new European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for access to health care in many European countries. Further information is available from the Department of Health on 020 7210 4850 or online at
www.dh.gov.uk.
Accommodation
All our basic holiday prices are expressed in £ sterling and are per person, based on 2 people sharing:
- Supplements for accommodation upgrades are usually expressed per room or cabin/sleeper, on the assumption that two people are occupying it.
- Single supplements or prices are expressed per person.
- In some hotels, triple or family rooms may be available and we are happy to provide a quotation accordingly.
- A hotel room shared by two people may contain a double or twin beds. In some countries a double bed may consist of two beds pushed or linked together.
- A single hotel room may be a 'true' single or may be a single occupancy of a double or twin room. Either way, the supplement shown is payable.
- Hotel rooms, particularly in older properties, may differ in size and amenities offered.
- Sleeping accommodation on board trains is likely to take the form of seating which converts into a berth at night.
- Hotel rooms and cabins on cruise ships include en suite facilities, which may be bath and WC or shower and WC.
- Rooms/cabins are not usually available before about 2pm on arrival day and must be vacated by about 11am on departure day.
You may request a specific configuration, room type or room location but, while we pass on all requests to our hotel partners, neither we nor they can guarantee that what you want can or will be provided.
Meals
Please check the 'What's included' panels to see what meals are included on each holiday.
- Hotels: Meals are generally taken in the restaurant of the hotel. On group holidays we usually dine together, with a set "table d'hôte" style menu that will often feature regional dishes. Drinks are usually not included in our arrangements.
- Trains: On chartered cruise trains most meals are included and taken in the restaurant car of the train. If you are travelling Leisure Select on Eurostar a meal and drinks are included, served at your seat.
- Cruise Ships: Meals are normally included, and taken in the ship's main restaurant.
- Special diets: If you have a specific dietary need please discuss it with us before you book. We will do our best to cater for special diets when notified in advance on the booking form. The more information we have, the better, but even then, some suppliers find it difficult to satisfy every requirement.
Our Group Holidays
Tour itineraries
Our group holidays are planned well in advance. We do our best to follow the detailed itineraries shown. However we reserve the right to make changes if we need to react to schedule changes or local conditions. The sightseeing tours and excursions described may also have to be amended to suit local conditions or Public Holidays.
What to wear
Casual dress is acceptable on the majority of our group holidays. It is entirely up to you what you choose to wear as there is no dress code, and it is after all your holiday. People do tend to dress slightly more formally, especially in the evenings, on cruises, or for gala/farewell dinners.
Luggage
Taking the right luggage can make a big difference to your enjoyment of the journey and the holiday overall. Where possible we include porterage for groups, however there will be times when you have to carry your suitcase or lift it onto a train. We therefore recommend one suitcase and one small piece of hand luggage per person, and suggest the popular 'vertical' suitcases with built-in wheels and a retractable handle.
Rail reservations
We request rail reservations well in advance and occasionally there are insufficient First Class (or equivalent) seats available. In these situations we will book Standard Class seats and refund the difference to you. Although we do our best to follow the routes noted in the itinerary there might be occasions when a different routing or departure time is necessary due to timetable variations or seat availability. For our groups we always request seats in non-smoking accommodation, although at busy times we may be allocated some smoking seats. We are unable to make specific requests for smoking seats.
Prices quoted on this website are based on special fares, negotiated with our rail partners for group travel. Should you wish to travel on any Eurostar or other rail service, other than that included as part of your group holiday, a rail variation charge of £20 per person per service will apply. Any change involving sleeper services will be quoted on an individual basis.
Travel delays
The vast majority of trains operate without problems. In the event of undue delay the group will be looked after in accordance with the standard practice of the scheduled carrier or transport operator.
Maintenance and development work
Every holiday visits a number of different destinations. There may well be maintenance, redevelopment, building, road works or track work in the vicinity of any of the hotels. If we know about such work and any associated disruption or noise which is reasonably likely to affect the enjoyment of your holiday, we make every effort to tell you about it as quickly as possible. Please be aware that we are not the only passengers travelling on the trains or ships used in our holidays, nor the only guests staying in the hotels. As a result we cannot be held responsible for the behaviour or noise of others.
Overseas standards
The transport and accommodation featured in our holidays complies with all local health and safety laws. However, overseas laws and standards may not be the same as we are used to in the UK. Some of our holidays and journeys are to countries with a less advanced infrastructure. We therefore recommend that you travel with an open mind and a flexible approach. By doing so you will enjoy the holiday experience so much more.
Our TTA membership
Planet Rail Limited is a member of the TTA with membership no U5374. The TTA and TTA members help holidaymakers to get the most from their travel and assist them when things do not go according to plan. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you through the TTA's Code of Conduct. For further information about the TTA, the Code of Conduct and the arbitration scheme available to you if you have a complaint, contact the TTA: Albion House, High Street, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6BD. Tel: 0870 8890577or
www.traveltrust.co.uk