Booking Conditions

The following Booking Conditions, together with all information relating to your chosen holiday contained on this website, form the basis of your contract with Planet Rail Limited. Please read them carefully as they set out our respective rights and obligations.

1. Making your booking

Having chosen your holiday, where possible you should complete the requested booking details via email, over the phone or on screen and authorise payment either by phone or online by credit or debit card of the applicable deposit (or full payment in the case of any booking made 8 weeks or less before the start of your holiday). We are currently unable to offer the online booking facility for all of the arrangements we sell. If this is the case with your chosen holiday you should phone us using the contact details given on our website. The applicable deposit and other payment details will be advised to you at the time of booking.
The party leader is responsible for making all payments due to us as referred to in clause 2 below. Once we have received your booking and all appropriate payments, we will, subject to availability, confirm your holiday by sending a Booking Confirmation and Invoice to the party leader. Everyone going on holiday must check all documents (including the Booking Confirmation and Invoice) carefully. Contact us immediately if any information which appears on any document appears to be incorrect or incomplete as it may not be possible to make changes later. Please note: not all of the advertised holiday prices published on our website include travel arrangements, for example flights. Please check at the time of booking.

2. Payment

In order to confirm your chosen holiday you are required to pay the appropriate deposit or make full payment (if your booking is received within 8 weeks of departure for most holidays, or within between 70 and 120 days of departure or longer+ for cruise, villa or private train bookings) at the time of booking. Please note: deposits are not refundable except where expressly stated in these booking conditions. In order to secure particular flight fares, villa, private train or cruise bookings, we may require a higher deposit than normal (to include the full cost of the flight element or a villa, private train or cruise deposit) to be paid at the time of booking. We will advise you of this before you confirm your booking. If you wish to purchase the insurance policy offered by the Travel Trust Association, all applicable premiums must also be paid at the time of booking (you must be insured – see clause 3). Please note: if you are based outside the UK and pay by international credit or debit card, then charges may apply. The balance of the holiday price must be received by us not less than 8 weeks prior to departure – or 70 days prior to departure for private train bookings and between 91 and 120 days or longer prior to departure for villa and cruise bookings+. If we do not receive all payments due (including any surcharge where applicable) in full and on time, we are entitled to assume that you wish to cancel your booking. In this case, we will be entitled to keep all deposits paid or due at that date. If we do not cancel straight away because you have promised to make payment, you must pay the cancellation charges set out in clause 7 below depending on the date we reasonably treat your booking as cancelled.

+ Some villa and cruise operators may have different payment terms and if so these will be reflected on your booking confirmation.

3. Insurance

We consider adequate travel insurance to be essential. Click here to be taken to the Travel Trust Association travel insurance page where you can purchase a policy online. If you decide not to purchase this insurance, you must give details of your alternative policy (insurer and policy number) in writing at the time of booking. We will not accept your booking unless you provide these details or purchase a travel insurance policy from the Travel Trust Association. Please read your policy details carefully and take them with you on holiday. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance cover you purchase is adequate for your particular needs. We are not in a position to check alternative insurance policies.

4. Your contract

A binding contract between us comes into existence when we send your Booking Confirmation and Invoice to the party leader or, in the case of online bookings, when they are confirmed by email or on screen by provision of a booking reference. English law (and no other) will apply to this contract and to any dispute, claim or other matter of any description which arises between us (except as set out below). We both also agree that any dispute, claim or other matter of any description (and whether or not involving any personal injury) which arises between us must be dealt with by the Courts of England and Wales only unless, in the case of Court proceedings, you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland. In this case, proceedings must either be brought in the Courts of your home country or those of England and Wales. If proceedings are brought in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you may choose to have your contract and any dispute, claim or other matter of any description which arises between us governed by the law of Scotland/Northern Ireland as applicable (but if you do not so choose, English law will apply).

5. Your holiday costs

We reserve the right to increase or reduce the price of unsold holidays at any time. Please note changes and errors occasionally occur. If there are any changes to the published prices, these will be confirmed at the time of booking. We will advise you of any error of which we are aware and of the then applicable price at the time of booking. Upgrades or additional facilities which you have requested are on a request basis with our suppliers and prices for these will only be confirmed once the prices have been
confirmed by our suppliers – see clause 15 (link to clause 15). Once the price of your chosen holiday has been confirmed at the time of booking then, subject to the correction of errors, we will only increase or decrease the price (including the price of any confirmed upgrades and/or additional facilities), in the following circumstances. A surcharge or a refund (as applicable) will be payable, subject to the conditions set out in this clause, where our transportation costs (e.g. rail fares, aviation insurance, security levy, fuel, scheduled airfares and any other
airline surcharges which are part of the contract between airlines (and their agents) and the tour operator), currency fluctuations, or any dues, taxes or fees payable for services such as landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports or airports increase or decrease. Even in the above cases we will absorb increased costs up to a total amount equivalent to 2% of the cost of your confirmed holiday (excluding insurance premiums and any amendment charges). Only if the increased costs exceed this 2% will we ask you to pay the difference. If any increase is greater than 20% of the cost of your holiday (excluding insurance premiums and any amendment charges), you will be entitled to cancel your booking and receive a full refund of all monies paid to us (except for any amendment charges) or alternatively purchase another holiday from us as referred to in clause 8 “Changes and Cancellations by us”. Although insurance (where purchased through us) does not form part of your contract with us or of any “package”, we will consider an appropriate refund of insurance premiums paid if you can show that you are unable to transfer or reuse your policy in the event of cancellation or purchase of an alternative holiday. You have 14 days from the issue date printed on the surcharge invoice to tell us if you want to cancel for this reason. If you do not tell us that you wish to cancel within this period of time, we are entitled to assume that you do not wish to cancel and will pay the surcharge. Any surcharge must be paid with the balance of the cost of the holiday or within 14 days of the issue date printed on the surcharge invoice, whichever is the later. A refund will only be payable if the decrease in our costs exceeds 2% as set out above. Where a refund is due, we will pay you the full amount of the decrease in our costs. Except as set out below, we promise not to levy a surcharge within 30 days of departure, nor will refunds be paid during this period. We reserve the right to correct errors in both advertised and confirmed prices. We will do so as soon as we become aware of the error. Please note, changes and errors occasionally occur. Please check the price of your chosen holiday at the time of booking.

6. Changes by you

Should you wish to make any changes to your confirmed holiday, you must notify us in writing as soon as possible. Whilst we will endeavour to assist you, we cannot guarantee we will be able to meet any such requests. Where we can assist you, an amendment fee of up to £30 per element altered will be payable together with any costs or charges incurred by us and/or incurred or imposed by any of our suppliers.

Please notify us in writing if circumstances arise whereby you wish to transfer to another available holiday, depart on a different date or make other alterations to your confirmed holiday. Note that any transfer requests to an alternative holiday (as distinct from transfers of bookings to other individuals, which are dealt with below) of less than 75% of the value of your original booking will be regarded as a cancellation and cancellation charges as set out in clause 7 below will be payable.

Group Holidays: Any alteration to your booking requested less than 56 days prior to departure will be regarded as a cancellation and cancellation charges as set out in clause 7 will be payable. Name changes can be made up to 21 days prior to departure for an alteration fee of £30 per person together with any costs or charges incurred or imposed by any of our suppliers.

7. Cancellation by you

Should you wish to cancel your chosen holiday once it has been confirmed, the party leader must immediately advise us in writing. Your notice of cancellation will only be effective when it is received in writing by us at our offices. If we receive your notice of cancellation 8 weeks or more before departure, 71 days or earlier for cruise, villa and private train bookings, we will retain the full amount of your deposit (NB “deposit” includes, in addition to any other monies paid or due at that time, all amounts paid or due at the time of booking in respect of any flight(s) you have booked).
If we receive your notice of cancellation 8 weeks or more before departure, up to 120 days earlier+ for cruise bookings and up to 71 days earlier for private train bookings, we will retain the full amount of your deposit and any other monies paid or due at the time of booking.
This includes monies paid in respect of any flight(s) we have booked on your behalf.
If we receive it less than 8 weeks before departure, 120 days or less for cruise bookings+ and 70 days or less for private train bookings, the following charges will be payable: NB The charges set out below are shown as a percentage of the total cost of the holiday* payable by the person(s) cancelling, excluding insurance premiums and any amendment charges. Insurance premiums and amendment charges are not refundable in the event of a cancellation.

+ Some villa and cruise operators may have different cancellation terms and if so these will be reflected on your booking confirmation.

Private Train holidays*

Period before departure within which written notification of cancellation is received by us Cancellation charge per person cancelling
70 – 61 days
60 – 42  days
41 – 15 days*
14 days or less*
45%;
60%;
80%;
100%.

*Please note that for Rovos Rail holidays there is 100% cancellation charge 30 days or less before your departure date.

Cruise and Villa holidays

Period before departure within which written notification of cancellation is received by us Cancellation charge per person cancelling
89 – 61 days
60 – 42  days
41 – 15 days
14 days or less
45%;
60%;
80%;
100%.

All other holidays

Period before departure within which written notification of cancellation is received by us Cancellation charge per person cancelling
56 – 42 days
41 – 28 days
27 – 14 days
13 days or less
30%;
50%;
70%;
100%.

Where any cancellation reduces the number of full paying party members below the number on which the price, or any concessions agreed for your booking were based, we will recalculate these items and reinvoice you accordingly. Depending on the reason for cancellation, you may be able to reclaim these cancellation charges (less any applicable excess) under the terms of your insurance policy. Claims must be made directly to the insurance company concerned.

Air inclusive holidays: * Please note that where you have booked a flight inclusive holiday with us the cancellation charge applicable to your flight will, depending on the airline you have booked with, often be an amount which could be as high as 100% of the total cost of your flight if you cancel at any time after your booking has been confirmed. You should assume that the cancellation charge applicable to your flight will be 100% if you cancel at any time after your booking has been confirmed by us. If the applicable charge is less than 100% we will advise you of the correct charge at the time of cancellation.
Rail tickets: * Please note that there is no refund permitted on Orient-Express or Trans-Siberian journeys, nor on rail tickets once they have been issued.
If any member(s) of your party is/are prevented from travelling, the person(s) concerned may transfer their place to someone else (introduced by you) providing the following requirements are complied with. We must be notified of the transfer(s) in writing (giving full details of the original and substitute party member(s)) not less than two weeks before departure. Where a transfer to a person of your choice can be made, all costs and charges incurred by us and/or incurred or imposed by any of our suppliers as a result together with an amendment fee of £30 must be paid before the transfer can be effected. For flight inclusive bookings, you must pay the charges levied by the airline concerned. As most airlines do not permit name changes after tickets have been issued for any reason, these charges are likely to be the full cost of the flight.

8. Changes and cancellation by us

We start planning the holidays we offer many months in advance. Occasionally, we have to make changes to and correct errors on our website and other details both before and after bookings have been confirmed and cancel confirmed bookings. Whilst we always endeavour to avoid changes and cancellations, we must reserve the right to do so. Most changes are minor. Occasionally, we have to make a “significant change” before departure, such as: a change of accommodation or rail travel or flight to that of a lower official classification or standard for the whole or a major part of the time you are away, a change of accommodation area for the whole or a major part of the time you are away, a change of outward departure time or overall length of time you are away of twelve or more hours, alterations to your confirmed place of departure that add more than 100 miles to any single leg of your journey and, in the case of tours, a significant change of itinerary missing out one or more major destination substantially or altogether. All escorted holidays are organised on the basis of a minimum number of customers (usually 15). In the unlikely event the holiday has to be cancelled due to insufficient numbers, you will be informed at least 8 weeks prior to departure. If we have to make a significant change or cancel, we will tell you as soon as possible. If there is time to do so before departure, we will offer you the choice of the following options:-

(a) accepting the changed arrangements or
(b) purchasing an alternative holiday from us, of a similar standard to that originally booked if available. We will offer you at least one alternative holiday of equivalent or higher standard for which you will not be asked to pay any more than the price of the original holiday. If this holiday is in fact cheaper than the original one, we will refund the price difference. If you do not wish to accept the holiday we specifically offer you, you may choose any of our other then available holidays. You must pay the applicable price of any such holiday. This will mean your paying more if it is more expensive or receiving a refund if it is cheaper or
(c) cancelling or accepting the cancellation in which case you will receive a full and quick refund of all monies you have paid to us*.
Please note, the above options are not available where any change made is a minor one. If we have to make a significant change or cancel we will as a minimum where compensation is due pay you reasonable compensation depending on the circumstances and when the significant change or cancellation is notified to you subject to the following exceptions. Compensation will not be payable and no liability beyond offering the above mentioned choices can be accepted where (1) we are forced to make a change or cancel as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which we could not have avoided even with all due care or (2) we have to cancel because the minimum number of bookings necessary for us to operate your holiday has not been reached – in this case we will notify you not later than 8 weeks before departure. No compensation will be payable and the above options will not be available if we cancel as a result of your failure to comply with any requirement of these booking conditions entitling us to cancel (such as paying on time) or if the change made is a minor one. A minor change is any change which, taking account of the information you have given us at the time of booking or which we can reasonably be expected to know as a tour operator, we could not reasonably expect to have a significant effect on your confirmed holiday. Except as set out above, we will in addition, where appropriate, pay you any reasonable proven costs and expenses you incur as a result of a cancellation by us.
Very rarely, we may be forced by “force majeure” (see clause 9) to change or terminate your holiday after departure, but before the scheduled end of your time away. This is extremely unlikely, but if this situation does occur, we regret we will be unable to make any refunds (unless we obtain any refunds from our suppliers), pay you any compensation or be responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by you as a result.
* If we are forced to make a last-minute change to your holiday as a result of “force majeure” (see clause 9), the option to cancel will not be available, unless we are able to obtain refunds from all our suppliers. We will offer the best available solution in the circumstances. We regret we will be unable to pay any compensation, make any refunds or be responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by you as a result.

9. Force majeure

Except where otherwise expressly stated in these booking conditions, we regret we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of our contractual obligations is prevented or affected by, or you otherwise suffer any damage or loss (as more fully described in clause 10(1) below) as a result of, “force majeure”. In these Booking Conditions, “force majeure” means any event which we or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events may include war or threat of war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity (actual or threatened), industrial dispute, natural or nuclear disaster including a pandemic, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events outside our control.

10. Our liability to you

(1) We promise to make sure that the holiday arrangements we have agreed to make, perform or provide as applicable as part of our contract with you are made, performed or provided with reasonable skill and care. This means that, subject to these booking conditions, we will accept responsibility if, for example, you suffer death or personal injury or your contracted holiday arrangements are not provided as promised or prove deficient as a result of the failure of ourselves, our employees, agents or suppliers to use reasonable skill and care in making, performing or providing, as applicable, your contracted holiday arrangements. Please note it is your responsibility to show that reasonable skill and care has not been used if you wish to make a claim against us. In addition, we will only be responsible for what our employees, agents and suppliers do or do not do if they were at the time acting within the course of their employment (for employees) or carrying out work we had asked them to do (for agents and suppliers). We will not be responsible for any injury, illness, death, loss (for example loss of enjoyment), damage, expense, cost or other sum or claim of any description whatsoever which results from any of the following:-
(a) the act(s) and/or omission(s) of the person(s) affected or any member(s) of their party or
(b) the act(s) and/or omission(s) of a third party not connected with the provision of your holiday and which were unforeseeable or unavoidable or
(c) “force majeure” as defined in clause 9 above.
We cannot accept responsibility for any services which do not form part of our contract. This includes, for example, any additional services or facilities which your hotel or any other supplier agrees to provide for you where the services or facilities are not advertised on our website and we have not agreed to arrange them. In addition, regardless of any wording used by us on our website, or elsewhere, we only promise to use reasonable skill and care as set out above and we do not have any greater or different liability to you.
Please note, we cannot accept any liability for any damage, loss, expense or other sum(s) of any description (1) which on the basis of the information given to us by you concerning your booking prior to our accepting it, we could not have foreseen you would suffer or incur if we breached our contract with you or (2) which did not result from any breach of contract or other fault by ourselves or our employees or, where we are responsible for them, our suppliers. Additionally we cannot accept liability for any business losses.
(2) Where we are found liable for loss of and/or damage to any luggage or personal possessions (including money), the maximum amount we will have to pay you is £1,000 per person affected (unless a lower limitation applies to your claim under this clause or clause 10(4) below) as you are assumed to have taken out adequate insurance at the time of booking. For all other claims which do not involve death or personal injury, if we are found liable to you on any basis, the maximum amount we will have to pay you is twice the price (excluding insurance premiums and amendment charges) paid by or on behalf of the person(s) affected in total unless a lower limitation applies to your claim under clause 10(4) below. This maximum amount will only be payable where everything has gone wrong and you have not received any benefit at all from your holiday.
(3) The promises we make to you about the services we have agreed to provide or arrange as part of our contract – and the laws and regulations of the country in which your claim or complaint occurred – will be used as the basis for deciding whether the services in question had been properly provided. If the particular services which gave rise to the claim or complaint complied with local laws and regulations applicable to those services at the time, the services will be treated as having been properly provided. This will be the case even if the services did not comply with the laws and regulations of the UK which would have applied had those services been provided in the UK. The exception to this is where the claim or complaint concerns the absence of a safety feature which might lead a reasonable holiday maker to refuse to take the holiday in question.
(4) Where any claim or part of a claim concerns or is based on any travel arrangements forming part of your holiday with us (including the process of getting on and off the transport concerned) provided by any air, sea, rail or road carrier or any stay in a hotel, the maximum amount of compensation we will have to pay you will be limited. The most we will have to pay you for that claim or that part of a claim if we are found liable to you on any basis is
the most the carrier or hotel keeper concerned would have to pay under the international convention or regulation which applies to the travel arrangements or hotel stay in question (for example, the Warsaw Convention as amended or un-amended and the Montreal Convention for international travel by air and/or for airlines with an operating licence granted by an EU country, the EC Regulation on Air Carrier Liability No 889/2002 for national and international travel by air, the Athens convention for international travel by sea and the Berne convention for international travel by rail). Please note: Where a carrier or hotel would not be obliged to make any payment to you under the applicable International Convention or Regulation in respect of a claim or part of a claim, we similarly are not obliged to make a payment to you for that claim or part of the claim. When making any payment, we are entitled to deduct any money which you have received or are entitled to receive from the transport provider or hotelier for the complaint or claim in question.
(5) Please note, we cannot accept any liability for any damage, loss, expense or other sum(s) of any description (i) which on the basis of the information given to us by you concerning your booking prior to our accepting it, we could not have foreseen you would suffer or incur if we breached our contract with you or (ii) which did not result from any breach of contract or other fault by ourselves or our employees or, where we are responsible for them, our suppliers. Additionally we cannot accept liability for any business losses.
(6) You must provide ourselves and our insurers with all assistance we may reasonably require. You must also tell us and the supplier concerned about your claim or complaint as set out in clause 11 below. If asked to do so, you must transfer to us or our insurers any rights you have against the supplier or whoever else is responsible for your claim or complaint (if the person concerned is under 18, their parent or guardian must do so). You must also agree to cooperate fully with us and our insurers if we or our insurers want to enforce any rights which are transferred.
(7) If you or any member of your party suffers illness, injury or death, through misadventure, as a result of an activity which does not form part of your contracted holiday arrangements, we will provide you with all reasonable assistance. This assistance may include our making a contribution towards your initial legal costs in taking action against the person(s) responsible providing you request this within 90 days of the incident in question. All assistance (financial or otherwise) is subject to our reasonable discretion and a maximum total cost to ourselves of £5,000 per booking. If you are entitled to have any costs and expenses arising from such an incident met by or from any insurance policy or if you obtain a costs order against anyone in relation to the incident, you must repay to us the costs and expenses we spend in assisting you.

11. Complaints and problems

In the unlikely event that you have any reason to complain or experience any problems with your holiday whilst away, you must immediately inform the hotelier, carrier or other supplier in question, and our Tour Manager in the case of group holidays. Any verbal notification must be put in writing and given to them as soon as possible. If the complaint or problem is not resolved to your satisfaction straight away, you must contact us with full details by telephone or email within 48 hours. Until we know about a problem or complaint, we cannot begin to resolve it. Most problems can be dealt with quickly. If you remain dissatisfied, however, you must write to us within 28 days of your return to the UK giving your booking reference and full details of your complaint. Only the party leader should write to us. If you fail to follow this simple complaints procedure, your right to claim the compensation you may otherwise have been entitled to may be affected or even lost as a result.

12. Rail Reservations

We request rail reservations many months in advance but occasionally there are insufficient First Class 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 and/or departure time is necessary due to timetable
variations or seat availability. Increasingly, trains are 100% non-smoking, and reservations are requested in non-smoking accommodation, although at busy times we may be allocated some smoking seats. We cannot 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 or individual 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.

13. Your responsibilities, suitability and behaviour

Bookings are accepted on the understanding that all persons travelling are normally in good health and able to fulfil the physical demands of the chosen holiday. Please do not take risks while on an activity holiday. In the interests of safety, you must follow the guidance in our notes, as well as that provided by anybody on our behalf; comply with any local codes of conduct, follow the Country Code, and act sensibly and prudently at all times. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of all necessary travel and health documents before departure.
All costs incurred in obtaining such documentation must be paid by you. We regret we cannot accept any liability if you are refused entry onto any transport or into any country due to failure on your part to carry correct documentation. If you or any member of your party is not a British citizen or holds a non British passport, you must check passport and visa requirements with the Embassy or Consulate of the country(ies) to or through which you are intending to travel. 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.
When you book with us, you accept responsibility for any damage or loss caused by you or any member of your party. Full payment for any such damage or loss (including lost keys) must be paid direct at the time to the accommodation owner or manager or other supplier. If you fail to do so, you will be responsible for meeting any claims subsequently made against us (together with our own and the other party’s full legal costs) as a result of your actions.
We expect all clients to have consideration for other people. If in our reasonable opinion or in the reasonable opinion of any other person in authority, you or any member of your party behaves in such a way as to cause or be likely to cause danger, upset or distress to any third party or damage to property, we are entitled, without prior notice, to terminate the holiday of the person(s) concerned. In this situation, the person(s) concerned will be required to leave the accommodation or other service. We will have no further responsibility toward such person(s) including any return travel arrangements. No refunds will be made and we will not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the termination. In no circumstances is the maximum number of occupants indicated in the description of each property to be exceeded. In such a case the owner of the property is entitled to refuse your party admission to the property and/or to request any of your party in excess of the maximum number to leave immediately. Again, we will have no further responsibility toward such person(s) including any return travel arrangements. We will not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the termination.
Group Holidays: We reserve the right in our absolute discretion to terminate without notice the holiday arrangements of any customer whose behaviour is such that it does or is likely, in our reasonable opinion, or in the opinion of any Tour Manager or any other person in authority, to cause distress, damage, danger or annoyance to any third party, or to cause damage to property. In these circumstances all our obligations to you under this contract or otherwise shall cease, full cancellation charges apply and we shall not be liable for any refund, compensation or costs incurred by you whatsoever. Our tours can be physically demanding. These rules apply if you are prevented from travelling because in the reasonable opinion of any person in authority (including office staff or your Tour Manager when you join your holiday), your physical condition means you are likely to be incapable of coping with the tour or to experience significant difficulties in doing so. It is your responsibility to disclose an accurate account of your mobility and all other relevant information relating to your health and fitness at the time of booking. You must advise us of any change to your level of mobility or health and fitness between booking your holiday and joining your tour.

14. Conditions of suppliers

Many of the services which make up your holiday are provided by independent suppliers. Those suppliers provide these services in accordance with their own terms and conditions. Some of these terms and conditions may limit or exclude the supplier’s liability to you, usually in accordance with applicable International Conventions (see clause 10 (4)). Copies of the relevant parts of these terms and conditions are available on request from ourselves or the supplier concerned.

15. Special requests and medical problems

If you have any special request, you must advise us in writing at the time of booking. Although we will endeavour to pass any reasonable requests on to the relevant supplier, we regret we cannot promise that any request will be met unless we have specifically confirmed this in writing. Confirmation that a special request has been noted or passed onto the supplier or the inclusion of the request on your Booking Confirmation and Invoice or any other documentation is not confirmation that the request will be met. Unless and until specifically confirmed, all special requests are subject to availability. We regret we cannot accept any conditional bookings, i.e. any booking which is specified to be conditional on the fulfilment of a particular request. All such bookings will be treated as “standard” bookings subject to the above provisions on special requests.
If you or any member of your party has any medical problem or disability or any health or fitness concerns which may affect your holiday or your participation in any activity, please give us full details before you confirm your booking so that we can advise as to the suitability of the chosen holiday. In any event, you must give us full details in writing at the time of booking. You must also advise us as soon as possible of any change in any disability or medical condition or your health or fitness. If we reasonably feel unable to properly accommodate the particular needs of the person concerned, we must reserve the right to decline their reservation or, if full details are not given at the time of booking or their health/fitness/disability/medical condition deteriorates, cancel when we become aware of these details.

16. Financial security

We are a member of the Travel Trust Association Ltd, membership number U5374 which means that your holiday funds are 100% financially protected. There are two levels to this financial protection:
· All advance payments are held in a trust account which is supervised by an independent trustee giving the consumer complete financial protection and peace of mind
· The TTA Travel Protection Plan is a unique fidelity insurance that protects all clients booking with TTA members up to £11,000 per passenger

17. Website accuracy

Please note, the information and prices shown on this website may have changed by the time you come to book your holiday. All information is given in good faith and believed correct at the time of being published.Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the website and prices at the time of publishing, regrettably errors do occasionally occur.You must therefore ensure you check all details of your chosen holiday (including the price) with us at the time of booking. This website is our sole responsibility. It is not produced on behalf of and does not commit any independent organisation/carriers whose services are featured in it.

18. Delay

Our recommended insurance policy provides some cover in the event of delay at your outward or homeward point of departure. We regret we are not in a position to offer you any assistance in the event of delay.
Group Travel – In the event of undue delay groups will be looked after in accordance with the standard practice of the scheduled carrier or transport operator.

19. Denied boarding

If you have booked a flight through us and your flight is cancelled or delayed, your flight ticket is downgraded or boarding is denied by your airline in circumstances which would entitle you to claim compensation against the airline under EC Regulation No 261/2004 – the Denied Boarding Regulations 2004, you must pursue the airline for the compensation due to you. All sums you receive or are entitled to receive from the airline concerned by virtue of these Regulations represent the full amount of your entitlement to compensation or any other payment arising from such cancellation, delay, downgrading or denied boarding. This includes any disappointment, distress, inconvenience or effect on any other arrangements. The fact a delay may entitle you to cancel your flight does not automatically entitle you to cancel any other arrangements even where those arrangements have been made in conjunction with your flight. We have no liability to make any payment to you in relation to the Denied Boarding Regulations or in respect of any flight cancellation or delay, downgrading of any flight ticket or denial of any boarding as the full amount of your entitlement to any compensation or other payment (as dealt with above) is covered by the airline’s obligations under the Denied Boarding Regulations. If, for any reason, you do not claim against the airline and make a claim for compensation from us, you must, at the time of payment of any compensation to you, make a complete assignment to us of the rights you have against the airline in relation to the claim that gives rise to that compensation payment. If your airline does not comply with these rules you should complain to the Air Transport Users’ Council on 020 7240 6061 www.auc.org.uk.

20. Flights

In accordance with EU Directive (EC) No 2111/2005 Article 9, we are required to bring to your attention the existence of a “Community list” which contains details of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban with the EU Community. The Community list is available for inspection at http://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/air/safety/air-ban/index_en.htm
In accordance with EU Regulations we are required to advise you of the carrier(s) (or, if the carrier(s) is not known, the likely carrier(s)) that will operate your flight(s) at the time of booking. Where we are only able to inform you of the likely carrier(s) at the time of booking, we shall inform you of the identity of the actual carrier(s) as soon as we become aware of this. Any change to the operating carrier(s) after your booking has been confirmed will be notified to you as soon as possible.
We are not always in a position at the time of booking to confirm the flight timings which will be used in connection with your flight. The flight timings shown on our website and detailed on your confirmation invoice are for guidance only and are subject to alteration and confirmation. The latest timings will be shown on your tickets which will be despatched to you approximately two weeks before departure. You must accordingly check your tickets very carefully immediately on receipt to ensure you have the correct flight times. It is possible that flight times may be changed even after tickets have been despatched – we will contact you as soon as possible if this occurs.
Any change in the identity of the carrier or flight timings will not entitle you to cancel or change to other arrangements without paying our normal charges except where specified in these conditions.
If the carrier with whom you have a confirmed reservation becomes subject to an operating ban as above as a result of which we/the carrier are unable to offer you a suitable alternative the provisions of clause 8 (“Changes and cancellation by us”) will apply.

21. Excursions and activities

We may provide you with information (on our website and/or when you are on holiday) about activities and excursions which are available in the area you are visiting. We have no involvement in any such activities or excursions which are neither run, supervised nor controlled in any way by us. They are provided by local operators or other third parties who are entirely independent of us. They do not form any part of your contract with us even where we suggest particular operators/other third parties and/or assist you in booking such activities or excursions in any way. We cannot accept any liability on any basis in relation to such activities or excursions and the acceptance of liability contained in clause 10(1) of our booking conditions will not apply to them. We do not however exclude liability for the negligence of ourselves or our employees resulting in your death or personal injury. We cannot guarantee accuracy at all times of information given in relation to such activities or excursions or about the area(s) you are visiting generally (except where this concerns the services which will form part of your contract) or that any particular excursion or activity which does not form part of our contract will take place as these services are not under our control. If you feel that any of the activities mentioned on our website which are not part of our contract are vital to the enjoyment of your holiday, write to us immediately and we will tell you the latest known situation. If we become aware of any material alterations to area information and/or such outside activities which can reasonably be expected to affect your decision to book a holiday with us, we will pass on this information at the time of booking.

22. Covid-19 – FCDO advice

Please note that the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) currently advises against all but essential travel to a number of overseas destinations, including popular holiday destinations in which we operate. However, many of these destinations remain open and welcoming to UK tourists and flights and trains to and from these destinations continue to operate. Whilst holiday destinations remain open to UK tourists, flights and trains continue to operate and holiday services can be performed, we will continue to offer holidays to our customers who wish to travel.

If you book a holiday with us during the Covid-19 pandemic, you confirm that you have checked, understand and accept the FCDO travel advice relating to your chosen destination, including where there may be a requirement on you to quarantine upon your return to the UK (or in destination), and understand and accept that there is a heightened risk of travelling during the Covid-19 pandemic, beyond that associated with travel during ordinary times. You are also required to purchase a specialist travel insurance which includes certain cover for Covid-19.

You are required to read and accept this Acknowledgment of Risk (Download Here) which hereby forms part of your contract with us.

Travel advice

For up-to-date travel advice from the UK government, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and https://travelaware.campaign.gov.uk. We recommend that you consult these websites before booking in order to make an informed decision about your chosen destination, and again before departure.

Insurance

You must purchase specialist travel insurance policy available which includes specific cover for Covid-19 related issues and incidents which may affect your travel arrangements [and travelling to a destination subject to a FCDO advisory against travel], You can choose to purchase the travel insurance offered by us on our website or a comparable alternative. It remains your responsibility to read and understand the insurance policy and ensure that it is suitable and adequate for your particular needs. Please read your policy details carefully and take them with you on holiday. If you choose to travel without adequate insurance cover, we will not be liable for any losses suffered by you in respect of which insurance cover would otherwise have been available.

Cancellation – the following clauses are in addition to our standard cancellation terms and charges:

Where you are choosing to travel to a destination subject to the FCDO advisory against non-essential travel, you accept that once your booking has been confirmed, if you decide not to travel due to the FCDO advisory, you will have to pay our standard cancellation charges as shown in clause 7 of these booking conditions – you are not entitled to cancel and receive a full refund in these circumstances, as it is assumed and you confirm that you have made your booking with full knowledge of the FCDO advisory against non-essential travel.

Where your chosen destination is exempt from the FCDO advisory against non-essential travel at the time of booking but is subsequently removed from the FCDO exemption list and at that point becomes subject to the FCDO advisory against non-essential travel, you accept that you will not have the right to cancel your booking and receive a full refund. If you choose to no longer travel in these circumstances, you will have to pay our standard cancellation charges as shown in clause 7 of these booking conditions, as you made your booking with full knowledge of the risks of travelling during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Please note that we will have no liability for any refunds, compensation, costs, expenses or other losses of any kind incurred by you (including, where applicable, the cost of medical treatment), in the following circumstances:

a) If you, or anyone in your booking party, test positive for Covid-19, or are notified or otherwise become aware that you have, or suspect you may have, come into close contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 (or where they otherwise suspect they may have Covid-19) and have to self-isolate for a period of time.

If this happens within 14 days of your departure date, you must contact us immediately as you may no longer be able to travel. We will offer you the following options where possible and subject to availability:

  1. Postponing your holiday to a later date. We will notify you of any impact on the price the postponement may have (please note that you may have to pay full cancellation charges on some elements of your holiday, such as the flight or train tickets, as well any increase in cost imposed by suppliers);
  2. If not everyone on the booking is affected, you will have the right to transfer your place on the holiday to another person nominated by you, subject always to compliance with the requirements within our booking conditions;
  3. Cancelling your booking, in which case we will impose our standard cancellation charges as at the date of cancellation by you. You may be able to claim these costs back from your travel insurance – please check your policy wording.

If this happens whilst you are on your holiday, please notify us immediately and we will provide such reasonable assistance as we can in the circumstances. However, we will not be responsible for covering the cost of any curtailment of your holiday, missed transport arrangements, additional accommodation required, or other associated costs incurred by you. Your travel insurance may cover some of these costs for you – please check the policy wording.

b) You fail any tests, checks or other measures imposed by a supplier, airline, port or airport, border control authority or other government body or local authority or fail to submit for testing or assessment when requested to do so, and as such you are denied boarding, entry to the destination, access to the travel services or you are otherwise unable to proceed with your holiday, or any part of the holiday, or you are required to self-isolate within the destination. Your travel insurance may cover some of these costs for you – please check the policy wording.

Your holiday experience

You acknowledge that the suppliers providing your holiday will need to comply with national and/or local guidance and requirements relating to Covid-19 and have implemented certain measures as a result. This will likely include specific requirements regarding personal protective equipment, such as use of face-masks by staff (and you may be required to wear a face-mask as well), social distancing, maximum number restrictions on the use of certain facilities, designated alternative entrance and exit routes, mandatory hand sanitisation, limited entertainment options and limited food/drink availability and temperature testing. We do not expect these measures to have a significant impact on your enjoyment of your holiday and all measures will be taken with the purpose of securing your safety and those around you.

Events Beyond Our Control

In these booking conditions, “Events Beyond Our Control” means a situation which is beyond our or the supplier’s control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. Such situations are likely to include, whether actual or threatened, war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, natural or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions, flood, epidemics and pandemics, fire, airport, port or airspace closures, restrictions or congestion, flight or entry restrictions imposed by any regulatory authority or other third party, an FCDO advisory against travel to a particular destination and any other government restrictions on travel. Except where otherwise stated in these booking conditions, we have no liability including for compensation, costs and expenses in such situations.