Booking Conditions

BOOKING CONDITIONS AND HOLIDAY INFORMATION

Please read the following booking conditions carefully as they set out the terms and conditions of the contract between you and Elegant Resorts Limited (‘we’, ‘us’ and ‘our’). Your contract will be governed by English law and any disputes will be dealt with in the courts of England and Wales. If you live in Northern Ireland or Scotland, the courts of Northern Ireland or Scotland (as appropriate) can deal with any disputes.
Our obligations to you will vary depending upon whether or not what you book with us is a package holiday (‘Package’) as defined by the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992. Section A below details the booking conditions which apply particularly to such a booking. Section B contains the booking conditions which apply particularly to a Cruise Package. Where you book only a ‘Flight’ or a ‘Hotel’ the terms which particularly apply to such a booking are detailed in Section C under the heading ‘Single Components’. There are certain terms which apply to any type of booking and these are detailed in Section D.

A. PACKAGE HOLIDAY
The information in our brochure and on our website, along with the terms set out below and the terms set out in section C apply when you book a Package.

A1. Your Contract/Financial Protection
The financial bonding requirements of the Travel Association (ABTA) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have been observed by us in relation to the provision of all our Packages. Our CAA ATOL number is 2885 (and our ABTA membership number V1712).
These arrangements ensure that payments made by you for your Package would be refunded and/or you would be repatriated in the unlikely event of our insolvency. Our registered office for service is Elegant Resorts Limited, The Old Palace, Chester, CH1 1RB and our company registration number is 2100913 United Kingdom.

A2. Price Policy
Elegant Resorts makes the following Price Policy on all our holidays: We reserve the right to alter the prices of any of the holidays shown in our brochures. You will be advised of the current price of the holiday that you wish to book before your contract is confirmed. The price of your travel arrangements was calculated using exchange rates quoted in the ‘Financial Times Guide to World Currencies’.
i) PRICE GUARANTEED IF YOU PAY IN FULL WHEN YOU BOOK. Ask your travel agent or Elegant Resorts for a confirmation of the current price at the time you make your booking. When full payment of the price is received by Elegant Resorts within seven days of the date shown on our Confirmation Invoice, we will guarantee your holiday price will not change.
OR
ii) PAYMENT OF DEPOSIT ONLY. Changes in transportation costs, including the cost of fuel, dues, taxes or fees chargeable for services such as landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports and airports and exchange rates mean that the price of your Package may change after you have booked. However, there will be no change within 30 days of your departure.
We will absorb, and you will not be charged for, any increase equivalent to 2% of the price of your Package, which excludes insurance premiums and any amendment charges. You will be charged for the amount over and above that, plus an administration charge of £1.00 per person together with an amount to cover agents’ commission. If this means that you have to pay an increase of more than 10% of the price of your Package, you will have the option of accepting a change to another Package if we are able to offer one (if this is of equivalent or higher quality you will not have to pay more but if it is of lower quality you will be refunded the difference in price), or canceling and receiving a full refund of all monies paid, except for any amendment charges. You must cancel within 14 days from the issue date printed on your final invoice.
We will consider an appropriate refund of insurance premiums paid if you can show that you are unable to transfer or reuse your policy. Should the price of your Package go down due to the changes mentioned above, by more than 2% of your Package cost, then any refund due will be paid to you. However, please note that Packages are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no impact on the price of your Package due to contractual and other protection in place.

A3. Changes Made By Us Before Travel
From time to time we may have to change details of the package you have booked. If any change will have a significant effect on your package, we will tell you about it before you travel, if there is time. Changes we will tell you about include:
• Change of your UK departure airport
• Significant change of your destination
• A change of more than 6 hours to the time you leave the UK or your destination on breaks of 4 nights or less, or a change of more than 12 hours for all other longer holiday durations
• If the swimming pool will not be available for an extended period during your Package and no alternative pool is available either at the property or nearby
If you do not want to accept a significant change, which we tell you about before you depart, we will, if we are able to do so, offer you an alternative Package of equivalent or closely similar standard and price at no extra cost, or a less expensive Package, in which case we will refund the difference in price. If you do not wish to take the alternative we offer you, you can choose a different Package offered for sale by us and pay, or receive a refund of, any price difference. Or, if you prefer, you can cancel your Package and receive a full refund of any money you have paid to us, except for any amendment charges. We will consider an appropriate refund of insurance premiums paid if you can show that you are unable to transfer or reuse your policy.
We will offer you compensation for changes which have to be made to your package before you travel, unless the change is as a result of the sort of circumstances listed in the paragraph below headed ‘Circumstances Beyond our Control’ or unless the change is made more than 55 days before departure. If you have not accepted the change but have accepted an alternative holiday, the compensation we will pay you will be nominal and will be to compensate you for the inconvenience of having to make alternative arrangements but otherwise we will have no liability to pay you compensation. If you have accepted the change, again, the compensation will be nominal unless, upon your return, you can justify to us that the change significantly diluted your holiday. If you have not accepted the change and have accepted a refund of your holiday cost, the compensation will be a nominal sum designed to compensate you for your inconvenience of arranging the refund and making any alternative arrangements you subsequently make but otherwise we will have no liability to pay you compensation.

A4. Minor Changes By Us Before Travel
Any change which we do not consider significant is a minor change. We will endeavour to tell you about a minor change before you travel but we are not obliged to do so and we will not pay compensation. It may not be possible at the time of booking to specify the airline or type of aircraft. Please note that two airlines may share the same services, therefore a flight may not be operated by the airline whose designated code is shown on your itinerary and ticket. We are required to inform you of the identity of the airline operating your flight. Any changes to the operating airline will be notified to you in all cases at check in or at the boarding gate. We reserve the right to change airlines or aircraft types at any time and changes of this type will not constitute a significant change.

A5. Cancellation By Us
We can cancel your Package and any other Package we operate. On rare occasions we may need to cancel your Package if there is insufficient demand for your particular Package. If we have to cancel a Package for any particular reason, we will tell you as soon as reasonably possible. In these circumstances we will, if we are able to do so, offer you an alternative Package of equivalent or closely similar standard and price at no extra cost, or a less expensive Package, in which case we will refund the difference in price. If you do not wish to take the alternative we offer you, you can choose another offered for sale by us and pay, or receive a full refund of, any price difference. Or, if you prefer, you can receive a full refund of any money you have paid to us, except for any amendment charges. We will consider an appropriate refund of insurance premiums paid if you can show that you are unable to transfer or reuse your policy. However, we will not cancel your Package within 8 weeks of departure except if we are forced to do so because of unusual circumstances we could not have foreseen, where we could not avoid the results of those circumstances even after taking all reasonable care (see ‘Circumstances Beyond Our Control’ below). No compensation will be payable in these circumstances, whenever they happen, and we will only have to offer you the above choices. We can also cancel if you fail to make payment for your booking on time.

A6. Circumstances Beyond Our Control
Except where we say differently elsewhere in these conditions, we will not pay any compensation, reimburse expenses, or cover losses for any amount or otherwise accept responsibility if we have to change your Package after departure, or we, or our suppliers, cannot supply your Package, as we, or they, had agreed, or you suffer any loss or damage of any description as a result of circumstances beyond our control. When we refer to circumstances beyond our control we mean any event that we, or the supplier in question, could not foresee or avoid, even after taking all reasonable care. Such circumstances will usually include, but are not limited to, war, terrorist activity, civil unrest, industrial dispute, bad weather (actual or threatened) and significant building work ongoing outside of your accommodation, which is not known to us in advance of your departure date and building work from a third party (such as resort development).

A7. Changes Made After Travel
If, after your departure, a significant part of your pre-booked Package arrangements cannot be provided you will be offered a suitable alternative if possible. If appropriate, we will also pay you compensation in accordance with the table in the section entitled ‘Changes Made By Us Before Travel’ unless the reason for the change is due to circumstances beyond our control (see section entitled ‘Circumstances Beyond Our Control’). If it is not possible to offer you a suitable alternative or, for good reasons, you do not accept the alternative arrangements, you will have the right to cancel your booking. In this event you will have the right to be returned by the same means of transport to your original departure point at no extra cost provided that transport is available. This does not impose an obligation on us to make specific transport arrangements for you if none are available.

A8. Flight Delays
Delays sometimes occur. We work closely with the airlines and overseas offices to make sure any delay is as short as possible. When a delay occurs we will try to make sure refreshments or meals are provided when appropriate. We will not do this ourselves as such arrangements will normally be the responsibility of the airline. If you have taken out our recommended travel insurance or a comparable policy you should have cover against delays.

A9. Our Liability To You
(i) Our obligations, and those of our suppliers providing any service or facility involved in any of your Package, are to take reasonable skill and care to arrange for the provision of such services and facilities and, where we or our supplier is actually providing the service or facility, to provide them with reasonable skill and care. Compliance with any applicable regulatory requirements (such as, for example, those of the Civil Aviation Authority) will be proper performance of our, and our suppliers’, obligations. You must show that reasonable skill and care has not been used if you wish to make any claim.
(ii) For claims which do not involve death or personal injury, we accept liability, subject to paragraph (i) above and (iv) below, should any part of your Package not be as described in this Guide or elsewhere by us before you leave the UK. If we have liability, we will, subject to paragraphs (iii), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix) and (x) below, pay you reasonable compensation. However, the maximum we will pay you in any circumstances is twice the price of the Package. This maximum will only be payable when every aspect of your Package has gone wrong and you have not received any benefit from your Package. Any sums received by you from suppliers, will be deducted from any sum paid to you as compensation by us.
(iii) Where a flight ticket is downgraded or a flight cancelled, delayed, or boarding is denied by any carrier in circumstances which would entitle you to compensation under the Denied Boarding Regulations 2004, then you are obliged to claim the appropriate sums pursuant to those Regulations from the carrier. Any sums received by you in this respect constitute the full amount of your entitlement to compensation for all matters flowing from the carrier's actions and which fall within the scope of the Denied Boarding Regulations. If, for any reason, you do not claim against the carrier 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 carrier in relation to the claim that gives rise to that compensation payment.
(iv) For claims which involve death or personal injury as a result of an activity forming part of your Package (excluding Resort Booked Excursions – see section entitled ‘Excursions’), we have liability subject to paragraph (i) above and (v) below. If we accept liability, we will, subject to paragraphs (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x) and (xi) below, pay you reasonable compensation.
(v) We accept liability in accordance with paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iv) above and subject to paragraphs (vi), (vii), (viii) ,(ix),( x), and (xi) below except where the cause of the failure in your Package or any death or personal injury you may suffer is not due to any fault on our part or that of our servants, agents or suppliers, and is either attributable to you, or attributable to someone unconnected with the Package and is unforeseeable or unavoidable, or due to unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care had been exercised, or an event which neither we, nor our servants, agents or suppliers could have foreseen or forestalled.
(vi) If any International Convention applies to or governs any of the services or facilities included in your Package arranged or provided by us, or provided by any of our suppliers, and you make a claim against us of any nature arising out of death, injury, loss or damage suffered during or as a result of the provision of those services or facilities, our liability to pay you compensation and/or the amount (if any) of compensation payable to you by us will be limited in accordance with and/or in an identical manner to that provided for by the International Convention concerned (in each case including in respect of the conditions of liability, the time for bringing any claim and the type and amount of any damages that can be awarded). For further details of the International Conventions which may apply, see paragraphs (vii), (viii) and (ix) below. You can get copies of the relevant Conventions if you ask us. For the avoidance of doubt, this means that we are to be regarded as having all benefit of any limitations of compensation contained in any of these Conventions or any other International Conventions applicable to your Package. Any applicable Protocols or amendments shall apply to all such International Conventions.
(vii) International Conventions in respect of international air travel include the Warsaw Convention 1929 (including as amended by the Hague Protocol 1955 and by any additional Montreal Protocols of 1975 and 1999 or otherwise) or the Montreal Convention 1999 (for international travel by air and/ or for airlines with an operating licence granted by an EU country, which the EC Regulation on Air Carrier Liability No 889/ 2002 for national and international travel by air has given effect to). Where any claim or part of a claim (including those involving death or personal injury) concerns or is based on any flight arrangements (including the process of getting on and/or off the aircraft concerned) provided by any air carrier where we have arranged the flight as part of our contract, 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 limited to the most the carrier concerned would have to pay under the International Convention or Regulation which applies to the flight in question. Please note: for all such claims (including those involving death or personal injury) where the carrier is not obliged to make any payment to you under the applicable International Convention or Regulation (including where any claim is not notified or issued in accordance with the time limits stipulated in the applicable Convention or Regulation), we are similarly 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 airline for the complaint or claim in question. Please also note that strict time limits apply for notifying loss, damage or delay of luggage to the airline. Any proceedings in respect of any claim (including one for personal injury or death) must be brought within 2 years of the date stipulated in the applicable Convention or Regulation.
(viii) The provisions of the Convention Relating to the Carriage of Passengers and Their Luggage by Sea 1974 (as amended) (“the Athens Convention”) apply to the Cruise element of your Package as well as the process of getting on or off the ship concerned. Please refer to Section B under the heading ‘Cruise Packages’ for a detailed explanation of the Athens Convention.
(ix) Other International Conventions which may apply include in respect of rail travel, the COTIF Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail 1980 (as amended); in respect of carriage by road, the Geneva Convention 1973; and, in respect of hotels, the Paris Convention 1962.
(x) You are obliged to assist us in recovering from any third party any sum which may compensate us for any sums we pay you. In particular, you are obliged to assign to us any rights that you may have against any other person whose acts or omissions have caused or contributed to our legal liability to pay you compensation. You must also provide us with all assistance we may reasonably require. Finally, you must follow the procedures for the notification of complaints set out in the clause below entitled ‘If you have a complaint’.
(xi) Should you become ill while on your Package you must, in addition to reporting your illness to the Cruise Customer Relations Desk, local agent or Duty Office, consult a local doctor and also consult your GP upon your return to the UK. Should you then wish to make a claim against us as a result of that illness, you must provide us with details of both the local doctor whom you saw and your GP, together with written authority for us to obtain a medical report from both those doctors.
(xii) If you or any member of your party suffers illness, injury or death, through misadventure, as a result of any activity which does not form part of your contracted Package 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 30 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 £1000 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.
(xiii) Other than as set out above, and as is detailed elsewhere in these booking conditions, we shall have no legal liability whatsoever to you for any loss, damage, personal injury or death which you suffer arising directly or indirectly from any aspect of your Package.

A9. Baggage
The amount of compensation we will pay for any loss or damage to luggage is limited in accordance with the Conventions listed in the above Section A8. For claims for missing or damaged baggage you must follow the rules on the back or your ticket or contained within the carrier’s conditions of carriage. Please note time limits apply within which to notify us or the carrier and make a claim. We will not accept liability for high-value items which you should insure for the appropriate amount.

B. CRUISE PACKAGES
Where you book a Cruise or a Cruise together with a flight and/or a transfer and/or a Pre-booked Excursion (as defined in the Section entitled “Excursions” below), you are booking a Cruise Package.
The terms set out below, together with the terms set out in Sections A and D, apply when you book a Cruise Package.
We sell the Cruise Package to you as principal but third party Cruise suppliers provide the Cruise, operate the Cruise Ship and act as carrier. The conditions of carriage of the third party Cruise supplier will also apply when you book a Cruise Package. These are available on request. Please see Section B4 (ii) below for further details.

B1. Pregnancy
Cruise ships do not have adequate medical facilities for childbirth on board. Cruise Ships will not carry you if you have entered or passed your 24th – 28th week of pregnancy at any point in your Cruise – the exact timing depends upon the Cruise Ship operator. You must, therefore, check with us at the time of booking. All pregnant women should produce a doctor’s or midwife’s letter stating that mother and baby are in good health, fit to travel and that the pregnancy is not high-risk. The letter must also include the estimated date of delivery (EDD) as calculated from both the last menstrual period (LMP) and ultrasound if this has been performed. We cannot accept a booking or subsequently carry you unless you comply with this Section. If you are pregnant and made a booking (or made a booking on behalf of a pregnant passenger) before it could reasonably have been known that you or the passenger would not be able to join the Cruise because you have entered or passed the 24th – 28th (as the case may be) week of pregnancy at any point in the Cruise, we will refund in full the price paid by you and the price paid by any accompanying passenger, provided that the pregnant passenger notified us as soon as reasonably practicable upon becoming aware that they would not be able to join the Cruise, but shall otherwise not have any liability whatsoever. We and our third party Cruise suppliers expressly reserve the right to refuse passage on board to you if you appear to be in an advanced state of pregnancy and we shall not have any liability whatsoever in respect of either such refusal and/or your carriage.

B2. Medical
(i) We and our third party Cruise suppliers reserve the right to require you to produce medical evidence of fitness to travel on our Cruises.
(ii) If you (or a member of your party) have a physical or mental disability or any other condition which may require special treatment or assistance (including those who use wheelchairs) you must advise us in writing before you make a booking. If you (or any member of your party) use a wheelchair, you must furnish your own standard size wheelchair and you must be accompanied by a travelling companion fit and able to assist you. Cruise Ships’ wheelchairs are for emergency use only. We and our third party Cruise suppliers reserve the right to refuse passage to you if you fail to notify us and our third party Cruise suppliers of such disabilities or need for assistance or who in our opinion is unfit for travel or whose condition may constitute a danger to themselves or others on board.

B3. Your Safety and Security
(i) We expect at all times that you conduct yourself in a proper manner and with due regard for the health, safety, comfort, enjoyment and general well-being of all persons both on board the Cruise Ship and involved in the provision of any service or facility forming part of the Cruise or any Excursion (including Overseas Booked Excursions or Pre-booked Excursions), and, by booking with us, you expressly agree to this. If it appears that your conduct, behaviour or health is such as to be a breach of this requirement or your behaviour, health or conduct is likely to endanger your own health or safety or that of any other passenger or crew or may make you likely to be refused permission to go ashore at any port or may make us liable for the costs of any medical treatment and/or maintenance and support and/or repatriation, then we and our third party Cruise suppliers and/or the Cruise Ship’s Master shall have the right to take any one or more of the following measures as may appear to be reasonable and appropriate in the particular circumstances –
1. refuse to embark or to disembark you at any port or other place of call;
2. disembark you;
3. transfer you to another berth;
4. confine you to a particular stateroom or to the Cruise Ship’s medical centre;
5. through the Cruise Ship’s doctor and/or his staff, administer any drug, medicine or other substance of a similar nature, or admit and/or confine you to a hospital or any similar institution at any port as the Cruise Ship’s doctor may consider necessary.
(ii) In the event of any action taken pursuant to Section B3, neither you nor (at our and our third party Cruise supplier’s discretion) any other person travelling with you (whether or not under the same booking) shall be entitled to make a claim against us for any loss or expense incurred as a result of such action, whether for a full or partial refund of the price or for any other form of compensation or for the cost of returning to the UK or to any other place or for any other form of loss or expense whatsoever. Where you are repatriated pursuant to Section B3 at our expense, we reserve the right to recover our costs.

B4. Our Liability to You
(i) We limit our liability, where applicable, by the Conventions referred to in this Section and by the terms detailed in Section A8.
(ii) All carriage (by land, air and sea) is subject to the terms and conditions of carriage of the actual carrier (which may be our third party Cruise supplier or their sub-contractor). Such terms may limit or exclude liability, are expressly incorporated into these booking conditions and also form the terms and conditions of separate contracts between you and the particular carrier as contained in the carrier’s ticket which is provided to you before your scheduled departure date. You can get copies of the relevant terms and conditions if you ask us.
(iii) Carriage of passengers and their luggage by sea is governed by the Athens Convention. You can get copies of this Convention if you ask us. The Athens Convention is expressly incorporated into these booking conditions and our liability for death or personal injury or for loss of or damage to luggage arising out of carriage by sea shall be determined accordingly. In most cases, the Athens Convention limits the carrier’s liability for death or personal injury or loss of or damage to luggage and makes special provision for valuables. It presumes that luggage has been delivered undamaged to you unless you give us or the Cruise operator written notice:
I. In the case of apparent damage, before or at the time of disembarkation or redelivery of luggage;
II. In the case of damage which is not apparent or of loss, within 15 days from the date of disembarkation or redelivery or from the time when such redelivery should have taken place.
a) Any damages payable by us up to the Athens Convention limits shall be reduced in proportion to any contributory negligence by you and by the maximum amount deductible as specified in Article 8 (4) of the Athens Convention.
b) Notwithstanding that the Cruise is performed on a Cruise Ship not owned by us, it is agreed that we shall at all times nevertheless be deemed a ship owner for the purposes of the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 1976 (as amended by the Protocol of 1996 or otherwise and as in force in any relevant jurisdiction from time to time), and so are entitled to limit our liability under its terms.

B5. At the Cruise Terminal – Advance Registration and Check-in
To comply with Government and security requirements, Cruise Ship operators will require you to register your details with them in advance of travel and may also ask you to complete an online check-in process. We will include details of advance registration and online check-in procedures (as applicable to each Cruise operator) on your confirmation invoice or with your tickets where known but it is your responsibility to check the relevant Cruise operator’s registration and check in process. Failure to submit the requested information accurately and in full may result in delays at the Cruise terminal and you may be denied boarding onto the Cruise ship. We accept no responsibility for such consequences.
Please also note carefully information regarding embarkation times and departure times of your Cruise ship. You are advised to be onboard the ship a minimum of 2 hours before the departure time (in some cases 1 hour before departure time is permitted at ports of call but check with the Cruise operator first). If you do not arrive to embark on time at any port or place then we shall have no liability in respect of the consequences. In respect of Cruises, the Cruise operators shall not be obliged to delay or deviate from the intended itinerary and you must bear any and all costs arising as a result. Costs associated with transportation to rejoin the Cruise Ship such as, but not limited to, Government fees, visa fees, subsistence, lodging, air fare, launch fare, car hire or agency fees shall be borne by you.

B6. Gratuities and Service Charges
The Cruise operators’ policies regarding onboard gratuities and/or service charges for the services provided by their staff vary. Most Cruise operators apply one or more of the following policies:
• Gratuities or Service Charges may be left to your discretion;
• A daily charge may be automatically added to your onboard account which can be removed on request;
• A charge may be included in the price of our Cruise Packages, which you pay in advance of travel. Where this applies it may be possible to ask for the charge to be removed and added to your onboard ship account.
• Some Cruise operators may apply a compulsory daily service charge to your onboard account but do not expect you to tip at all during the cruise.
Whichever scheme the cruise operator uses, you will be required to abide by their gratuity / service charge policy and must settle your account in full before disembarking the ship at the end of your cruise. Where we are made aware of a Cruise operators policy on gratuities or service charges details will be provided either at the time of booking, on our invoices or with the Cruise operators tickets.

B7. Contagious or Infectious Diseases Affecting Your Cruise
At any port or place the Cruise operator may refuse to embark or may disembark any customer who, in the opinion of the Master, ship’s medical personnel or other authorised ship’s officer, might be excluded from landing at destination by Immigration or other Governmental Authorities or who may be suffering from contagious or infectious disease or whose presence, in the opinion of the Master, may be detrimental to the comfort or safety of other customers or the crew. In such cases you shall not be entitled to any refund of the Package cost or compensation of any kind. Additionally, we will have no liability for any costs or expenses they incur as a result. In cases of quarantine of the ship involving your detention, you must bear all risk and expense thereby caused and will be charged for food and accommodation during the period of detention, payable day by day, if maintained on board the ship, and for all other quarantine fees and expenses assessed or incurred by you.

C. SINGLE COMPONENTS
The terms set out below, together with the terms set out in section C, apply when you book individual travel components such as only a ‘Flight’ or only a ‘Hotel’. They apply whether you book one component or more than one component. Booking more than one component does not create a Package.

C1. Price Changes
Price increases may occur any time prior to full payment being received from you, and you will be liable to pay any such increases in full.

C2. Transfer of Bookings
In the case of a scheduled flight only booking, transfer to another person will involve cancelling the original booking, thereby incurring any relevant cancellation charges and then making a new booking, which will be subject to availability and any additional price increase. Transfer of any other type of booking is subject to the supplier’s own terms and conditions and the applicable amendment or cancellation charges.

C3. Cancellation / Amendment of Bookings
Bookings may be amended or cancelled in accordance with the relevant supplier’s terms and conditions and subject to the supplier’s amendment and cancellation charges. In many cases our flight suppliers may impose charges of up to 100% of the cost of the travel arrangements and these will be passed onto you. Please refer to Section D10 for more details on changing your booking.

C4. Our Liability To You
Our responsibility is to make arrangements for the provision by the relevant suppliers (including air carrier of air transport, accommodation owner/supplier, car hire provider) of the components you book, but we do not have any responsibility for the operation of the component itself.
We have no liability to you for any dissatisfaction, loss of enjoyment, loss, injury or damage which results from your use of the single component unless we have negligently failed to select a normally competent provider of the relevant component. Further, we have no liability to you in any event for any consequential loss which you may suffer in relation to any arrangements which you book to coincide with the single component you have booked with us.

C5. International Conventions
If any International Convention applies to or governs any of the services or facilities arranged or provided by us, or provided by any of our suppliers, and you make a claim against us of any nature arising out of death, injury, loss or damage suffered during or as a result of the provision of those services or facilities, our liability to pay you compensation and/or the amount (if any) of compensation payable to you by us will be limited in accordance with and/or in an identical manner to that provided for by the International Convention concerned (in each case including in respect of the conditions of liability, the time for bringing any claim and the type and amount of any damages that can be awarded). International Conventions which may apply include: in respect of international air travel, the Warsaw Convention 1929 (including as amended by the Hague Protocol 1955 and by any additional Montreal Protocols of 1975 and 1999 or otherwise) or the Montreal Convention 1999 (for international travel by air and/ or for airlines with an operating licence granted by an EU country, which the EC Regulation on Air Carrier Liability No 889/ 2002 for national and international travel by air has given effect to); in respect of rail travel, the COTIF Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail 1980 (as amended); in respect of carriage by sea, the Athens Convention 1974 (as amended); in respect of carriage by road, the Geneva Convention 1973; and, in respect of hotels, the Paris Convention 1962. Any applicable Protocols or amendments shall apply to all such International Conventions. You can get copies of the relevant Conventions if you ask us. For the avoidance of doubt, this means that we are to be regarded as having all benefit of any limitations of compensation contained in any of these Conventions or any other International Conventions applicable to your travel arrangements.

D. All BOOKINGS
Before you book please discuss your choice of destination, accommodation and transport with our Travel Consultants to make sure it will be suitable for you and the people you will be travelling with. Some travel and accommodation arrangements are only available on a request basis – where this is the case you will be advised at the time you make your enquiry and details of the arrangements on request will be shown on any documentation we issue. Any arrangements that we advise you are on request are not confirmed or guaranteed and are subject to change until we receive confirmation from our supplier.

D1. Your Holiday Booking
For all bookings as described in sections A, and B above a contract will exist between you and us when we issue a confirmation invoice/receipt/e-mail.
The person who signs the booking form or completes the booking online or by telephone is the ‘lead name’. He or she must be 18 years of age or over and is responsible for payment of the total booking price, including any insurance premiums and subsequent cancellation or amendment charges that may be payable. He or she also agrees to provide accurate and full information to the remainder of the travelling party in relation to the booking, including any changes thereto and confirms that all the other members of the party, including any that may be added at a later date, agree to be bound by these conditions, and all other information in the relevant brochure and on our website (as applicable).
If you are booking on the internet or over the phone the lead name on the booking must be a minimum age of 18.

D2. Payment Terms
If your booking is made more than 8 weeks before the intended departure date, you must pay either:
(i) the full fare (depending on the carrier’s conditions for the travel arrangements in question), or
(ii) a deposit as required by us and/or the supplier of the services for the arrangements in question, the amount of which will be advised at the time of booking.
You will be advised at the time of booking what payment is required for your particular arrangements. The balance of the cost of your travel arrangements must be paid within 8 weeks before the departure date. If your booking is made within 8 weeks of your intended departure date, the total cost of your travel arrangements must be paid at the time of booking.
PLEASE NOTE: FAILURE TO PAY ON TIME WILL RESULT IN CANCELLATION.

D3.Method of Payment
Credit Cards: we accept Barclay card/Visa, Access/MasterCard and American Express. Clients choosing to use this method of payment will be subject to a credit card handling fee which will be advised at the time of booking.

D4. Insurance
It is a condition of our contract with you that you have suitable insurance cover for the travel arrangements you have booked with us and any activities which you expect to take part in.

D5. Flight Reconfirmation
It is your responsibility to ensure that you reconfirm the departure date and times of all your flights at least 72 hours prior to departure. This is particularly important in respect of subsequent journeys after you have left the UK.

D6. Ticketing
Your tickets and any other documents relating to your booking will be sent to the address which you give us at the time of booking, or may be delivered by e-mail in the form of an e-ticket if you supplied an e-mail address at the time of booking. Provided you have paid the total cost of the travel arrangements, we will endeavour to dispatch your tickets to you at least 2 weeks prior to departure. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU CHECK ALL DETAILS OF YOUR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS BEFORE LEAVING THE UK. IF THERE ARE ANY INACCURACIES OR YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUERY PLEASE CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY.
For bookings made within 7 days of departure, it is necessary for us to use a courier company which guarantees next day delivery and any charges will be passed on to you at the time of booking. In such cases, tickets will either be sent to you or to the departure airport, and this will be advised at the time of booking. Please note that the delivery charge is non-refundable.

D7. Lost/Stolen Flight Tickets
If you lose your flight ticket or it is stolen before you leave the UK, certain airlines will not authorise us to issue a replacement. You would then be required to purchase a new ticket and there may be a delay of up to 12 months before we receive authority from the airline to make any refund to you. If the airline concerned does allow us to issue a replacement ticket, we will require payment of an administration fee from you. It is most important that you contact us as soon as you realise that your ticket is missing. If your ticket is lost or stolen after you have left the UK, certain airlines will not issue a duplicate. You will need to purchase a new ticket locally, at the local fare. When you return to the UK you can apply to us for a refund on your lost ticket, but any refund will be entirely at the discretion of the airline and it can take up to 12 months before we receive authority from the airline to make any refund.

D8. Changes You Make Before Travel
If you want to change the arrangements you have booked in any way, we will try to help you, although we cannot guarantee that we will always be able to do this as changes are subject to availability at the time and to the transport providers terms and conditions. Please note that typically changes to scheduled flight tickets, and Eurostar tickets are very restrictive. Certain travel arrangements may not be changeable after a reservation has been made and any alteration request could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangement. For example, some of the transport providers we use do not permit name changes for any reason. Such changes are likely to result in your being charged the full cost of the service and may be subject to space being available for a new reservation. In addition, you will have to pay any extra costs the carrier may pass on to us. See the Exception in the section ‘Cancellation By You’ below. Where we can make a change we will charge for any additional services, facilities, or other items changed, at the price which applies on the day the change is made. In addition, we will also apply administration charges of £25 for each person on the booking and for each item you want to change. Any booking discount you may have received at the time the original booking was made, may be altered or reduced whenever changes are made.
If any booked person is prevented from travelling for reasons beyond your control and not simply from a change of mind, we will agree to that person’s booking being transferred to another person who satisfies all the conditions applicable to the package, subject to both persons accepting joint and several liability for full payment of the package price and our charge for confirming the transfer and any additional costs arising from the transfer. We must be given reasonable notice of the transfer request – at least 14 days prior to departure.
D9. Cancellation By You
The lead name on the booking must give notice to cancel in writing and the charges shown below apply from the date we receive the notice at our offices or the travel agent activates the cancellation.
In order to cover our expected losses from the cancellation of the booking there is a set scale of charges which must be paid by you if you, or anyone traveling with you, cancels. Also note the ‘Exception’ described below which may apply in addition to the scale of charges.
Time we receive your notice to cancel Cancellation charge before departure
More than 55 days Loss of deposit
55-43 days 50% cost of holiday
42-22 days 70% cost of holiday
21-10 days 90% cost of holiday
9 days or less 100% cost of holiday
If any member of the booking cancels and you cannot fill that person’s place, you may have to pay additional supplements for your accommodation. For example, you may have to pay single or under-occupancy supplements. If you do cancel, you must still pay any insurance premiums and amendment charges which arose before the cancellation and any deposits paid for any pre-booked items or services.
‘Exception’ Cancellation of certain transport arrangements, typically Scheduled airline and Eurostar tickets, can result in up to 100% cancellation charges regardless of the notice period given to us. We reserve the right to pass on these charges which will apply to the transport element of your booking and the cancellation charges in the scale above will apply to the other elements of your booking (e.g. accommodation, optional extras). Similarly, name changes (including initial changes), destination and date changes can be treated by such suppliers as a cancellation and re-booking, regardless of the period of notice given to us. If the supplier treats the change as a cancellation and re-booking we will pass on to you the cost imposed by the supplier, which could be up to 100% of the transport element of your booking and you must also pay the charge listed in the section ‘Changes You Make Before Travel’ above. Also note that the transport provider may refuse to issue replacement tickets for lost or stolen tickets and new tickets may have to be purchased by you. The cost of the new ticket may be greater than the cost of the original ticket.
The above cancellation charges may vary to reflect the terms and conditions of our suppliers and deposits may be non-refundable for cancellations of all holidays occurring over the following periods – Christmas, New Year, Easter and other school holidays.
Please note that the price of your flight includes the amount (currently £2.50 per person) which we are required to pay to the CAA as part of the ATOL Protection Contribution (“the APC Sum”). In the event that you choose to cancel your flight the APC Sum is not refundable in any circumstances.
Changes and Cancellation of Optional Extras
When we refer to 'Optional Extras', we mean anything you choose to add to your booking that is additional to the inclusive transport and accommodation arrangements you book. For example, car hire or transfers. If you cancel any Optional Extras for which there is a cost, we will pass on any costs imposed by the provider of the service, in addition, we will levy a charge to cover our costs of administering the change. If you cancel any travel insurance you booked through us your premium will not be refunded, as cover under the policy will already have begun.

D10. Suppliers’ Conditions
Our third party suppliers have their own booking conditions and conditions of carriage and you will be bound by these, so far as the relevant supplier is concerned. Our suppliers’ conditions will also apply to your contract with us, and in the event of any conflict between the suppliers’ conditions and our conditions, the suppliers’ conditions will prevail, save to the extent that any term in the suppliers’ conditions is deemed to be invalid or unenforceable, in which event our conditions will prevail. Some of our suppliers’ conditions may limit or exclude liability on the part of the relevant supplier, and, by virtue of their application to your contract with us, may also limit or exclude our liability to you, and they are often subject to international conventions. Where relevant, copies of such conditions may be available for inspection at the office of the relevant supplier.

D11. Airline Collapse
In the unlikely event that the airline with which you are travelling ceases to trade whilst you are abroad, you must contact us at the earliest opportunity to allow us to seek to find you an alternative return flight. If you have provided us with your contact details for when you are abroad, this may further assist us in contacting you. We shall not be liable for any costs you incur in making your own return flight arrangements if you have not given us the opportunity to arrange an alternative flight home for you.
In making alternative return flight arrangements for you we will take the approach of ‘like for like’. What this means is that if your flight is an economy seat we will arrange an economy return alternative and if this is not available immediately, you will be responsible for the cost of remaining abroad until it is or if you wish to upgrade to an immediately available business or first class seat, you will have to pay the difference between the economy seat and the upgraded seat. If your flight seat is business or first class, we will endeavour to find an immediately available business or first class alternative. Our priority, however, will be to book your return flight as soon as possible and, therefore, if the earliest return flight is in a lower class than that which you booked, that return flight is what we will arrange for you and that will be the extent of our obligation to you.

D12. Flight and Other Travel Timings
Flight timings are provided by airlines and are subject to Air Traffic Control restrictions. All means of transportation are subject to weather conditions and the need for constant maintenance and the ability of passengers to check in on time. There is no guarantee that transport will depart at the times stated on any itinerary or tickets which you receive. All timings are estimates only, and we do not have any liability to you for any delay, which may arise, or for any schedule alterations.
At the Airport – Check-in
If you fail to check in on time, the airline is entitled to refuse to allow you to board the flight. We cannot accept responsibility if such a situation arises and, whilst we endeavour to assist in making alternative travel arrangements to your resort, any cost or loss incurred as a result will be your responsibility.
If you fail to check in at all for your flight from the UK, we retain the right to cancel any other arrangements you have booked with us and you will be unable to use your return flight to the UK. No refund can be made for any unused arrangements.
Important notice: you must check-in at least 1 hour prior to departure, failure to do so could result in you being denied travel. Remember no calls will be made for your flight so please make sure that you are at the departure gate no later than 45 minutes before your departure time. Passengers that are refused travel will be responsible for arranging alternative transportation at their own expense.

D13. Denied Boarding
Where a flight ticket is downgraded or a flight cancelled, delayed, or boarding is denied by any carrier in circumstances which would entitle you to compensation under the Denied Boarding Regulations 2004, then you are obliged to claim the appropriate sums pursuant to those Regulations from the carrier. Any sums received by you in this respect constitute the full amount of your entitlement to compensation for all matters flowing from the carrier’s actions and which fall within the scope of the Denied Boarding Regulations. If, for any reason, you do not claim against the carrier 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 carrier in relation to the claim that gives rise to that compensation payment.

D14. Complaints
We aim to provide the best holiday possible. However, if you are not satisfied please complain as soon as possible to the relevant person (for example, the accommodation management, transport supplier or Customer Relations Desk on board the Cruise Ship). If they cannot help you must tell your holiday Representative or our Local Agent and we will do everything reasonably possible to sort the problem out. If this does not solve the problem, please telephone us on +44 1244 897 000 reversing the costs of the call, or call our 24-hour helpline as detailed in your itinerary. In the unlikely event that matters cannot be resolved to your satisfaction in the resort please notify the Client Services Department in writing within 28 days of your return. If you have special needs that prevent you from writing to us then, where possible, we will accept details of your complaint over the telephone. For complaints arising from scheduled airlines, we will act as a liaison between you and the airline to try to assist in resolving the problem. If we cannot help and you wish to take matters further, you must contact the airline directly.
The address to send your letter to is: Client Services Department, Elegant Resorts Ltd, The Old Palace, Chester, CH1 1RB
We would point out that failure to follow the above procedures during your holiday, and/or failure to complain within 28 days of your return, may reduce or extinguish any rights you have to claim compensation from us, or from any relevant supplier. Any such rights will be reduced or extinguished if, had you followed the above procedures during your holiday, you or we could have taken steps to reduce any loss or damage suffered or entirely preventing it from being suffered.
It is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to properly investigate a complaint if we are not told about it reasonably quickly once the holiday is over. Your right to claim compensation may also be reduced or extinguished should any delay in your complaint being notified during or after your holiday, preventing us from carrying out a proper investigation.
We aim to resolve all complaints ourselves, but if this is not possible your complaint can be considered under a scheme devised by ABTA and administered by IDRS Ltd. We will give you details of this scheme if you ask. The scheme does not apply to claims over £25,000 in total or more than £5000 a person, or to claims mainly about illness or injury. To take advantage of the scheme you must contact the IDRS Ltd within 9 months of returning from your holiday.

D15. Travel Documents and Health Advice
It is your responsibility to have valid travel documents. If we or your carrier are fined as a result of you holding incorrect documents, you will have to pay us the full amount. For up to date UK Government health & travel advice (including passport and visa requirements) please contact the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Travel Advice Unit. The FCO may have issued information about your holiday destination. You are advised to check this information on the FCO website: visit www.fco.gov.uk. Alternatively call 0845 8502829. See our website for further information.

D16. Passports & Visas (British Citizens) and Health Requirements
It is your responsibility to ensure that you and all those travelling with you have a valid passport and any necessary visa and that you have obtained any necessary vaccinations to gain entry to any country you are visiting. It can often take some time to obtain a passport or visa therefore you should apply well in advance. In peak periods it is advisable to allow at least 4 weeks. General information on passport and visa requirements for British Citizens is available through our website or within the details sent to you. However, passport and visa regulations and health requirements can change at any time, therefore, we recommend that you check passport/visa requirements with the Embassy or Consulate of the country you intend to visit and that you consult your GP or the Foreign Office (www.fco.gov.uk) regarding health requirements or visit websites such as www.nathnac.org.uk and www.hpa.org.uk for information. We will have no liability to you if you or any member of your party travel without the correct passport and visa or without the necessary vaccinations, and you will have to pay to us any costs which we incur through helping you because of any such failure on your part.

D17. Special Requests
If you have a special request for anything that is not automatically part of the travel arrangements you book through us, please advise us when you book and we will pass this information on to the companies we work with. Our note of your request on your invoice/receipt confirms we have received it and does not guarantee that we, or the relevant supplier, can meet your request. Where possible they will try to help you, but we cannot guarantee any request unless it is noted on your invoice/receipt and we also confirm the request separately in writing. We must emphasise that verbal confirmations of special requests cannot be taken as a guarantee that they will be met e.g. special meal types on flights or hotel room requests. We will not pay compensation for failing to meet a special request that we have not confirmed separately in writing.

D18. Disabled Travellers and Passengers with Reduced Mobility
We cannot be held responsible if you fail to tell us about special needs/requirements that will affect your holiday experience and this means we will not compensate you. If you have a medical / mobility problem / condition or disability which may affect your holiday, please tell us before you confirm your booking. We and our suppliers may require a doctor’s certificate or other documentation, information or waiver relating to such disability, medical / mobility problem or condition or fitness to travel as we or our suppliers consider necessary. In any event, you must give us full details in writing at the time of booking.

D19. Excursions
Excursions include, but are not restricted to, any sightseeing trips, events or other tours either attended in resort or land based ‘shore’ excursions for which additional payment is required. Excursions can either be booked and/or paid for in resort or on Cruise Ships ("Overseas Booked Excursions") or pre-booked and paid for when you book your Package with us ("Pre-booked Excursions"). All excursions are supplied by third party suppliers and are subject to the section entitled "Suppliers' Conditions" above. We accept, subject to the Sections entitled "Suppliers' Conditions" and "Our Liability to You" above, responsibility for Pre-booked Excursions. However, Overseas Booked Excursions do not form part of your Package and are not governed by the Package Travel, Package Holiday and Package Tours Regulations 1992. We do not have any responsibility or liability whatsoever for anything which may go wrong on an Overseas Booked Excursion. We, our servants, employees or agents are acting, depending upon the actual Overseas Booked Excursion, either as agents for the relevant Overseas Booked Excursion supplier or as agent for you. In any event the contract for any Overseas Booked Excursion is between you and the Overseas Booked Excursion provider. It is your responsibility to note carefully any conditions of contract contained in any Overseas Booked Excursion, literature, ticket or receipt you are given. For Overseas Booked Excursions you may be subject to the laws of the country in which you take your excursion and may be required to bring any disputes or claims before the Courts of that country also.

D20. Information Accuracy
We publish brochure and website information many months in advance and, as far as we know, all information is correct at the time of publication. However, things may still change after publication and we check regularly to see if we need to update or correct any information or prices. If there are any significant information changes or we find any mistakes, we will put details on our computer reservation system or website so you will receive the latest information when you make your booking.
Descriptions of accommodation, facilities and services we provide are based on information obtained from our suppliers. Sometimes the facilities described will be withdrawn for reasons such as maintenance, bad weather or lack of demand from guests. Where our suppliers advise us about significant changes to descriptions or about the withdrawal of any significant facility, we will tell you as soon as possible. Some activities or facilities, watersports for example, may not be available all year round. There may be a charge for some facilities. In some places during high season (and even at other times) there is a possibility you will be disturbed by noise from less considerate groups, so please bear this in mind when choosing your destination and accommodation. Any transfer times we quote for travel between airport and resort are approximate and, depending on circumstances, the journey time to your own chosen property may be longer.

D21. Personal Information
To comply with the Data Protection Act we would like to advise you that in order to provide you with the products or services you require, the personal information you supply to us will be passed to relevant trusted partners or suppliers. This may involve sending your details to countries that do not have an equal level of privacy legislation to that in the UK. Your details may also be used for improving our customer service, analysis and occasionally, for the prevention of crime.
We may also occasionally contact you by post or telephone to update you about great offers, products and services. Should you not wish to receive such information, please advise one of our Travel Consultants.

D22.Your Responsibility
We want all our clients to have an enjoyable, carefree holiday. But you must remember that you are responsible for your actions and the effect they may have on others. If we, or another person in authority, believe:
• your actions could upset, annoy or disturb other customers, our suppliers or our own staff, or put them in any risk or danger, or damage property; or
• you are unfit to travel,
we may end your holiday and terminate your contract. You and your travelling party will be prevented from using your booked accommodation, transport and any other Travel Arrangements forming part of your booking, and we will not be liable for any refund, compensation or any other costs you have to pay. Alternatively, at our discretion, you may be permitted to continue with your holiday but may have additional terms of carriage imposed upon you.

D23. Your Financial Protection
The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 require us to provide security for the monies that you pay for the package holidays booked from our brochure/website and for your repatriation in the event of our insolvency. When you buy an ATOL protected air package or flight from us you will receive a confirmation invoice from us (or via the authorised agent through which you booked) confirming your arrangements and your protection under our Air Travel Organiser’s Licence number 2885 (Elegant Resorts Ltd). In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the CAA will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid to us for an advance booking. For further information visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk. The price of your holiday includes the amount of £2.50 per person as part of the ATOL Protection Contribution (APC) we pay to the CAA. Where you book a package holiday from our brochure which does not include a flight, or where you book accommodation only, we provide security by way of a bond held by ABTA.

HOLIDAY INFORMATION
Elegant Resorts (part of the Thomas Cook Group) is a member of the Travel Association and a fully bonded tour operator with a licence granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. We specialise in deluxe and individual holidays around the world and, thanks to our knowledgeable and friendly travel team, have achieved a reputation for offering our clients a service and commitment that is second to none. Like you, we don’t compromise our standards. Like you, we expect the best.

Brochure/Website Statement
Our brochures (and this website) are prepared many months before the start of the holiday season and particular attention has been given to all details provided. However for a variety of reasons there may be amendments made at any time to the facilities or services available. In this event, your travel consultant will advise you of any change(s) immediately. Should such an event occur during your holiday, please contact either our local representative (where applicable) or our travel team here in Chester on +44 1244 897 555.

Our Holidays
Our holidays cater for the most discerning of travellers and the hotels we have selected rank amongst the finest in the world. Each one offers the highest standards of accommodation, cuisine and service available. However they are all very individual and do cater for – and satisfy – different requirements. Whilst we appreciate the importance of value for money, we also understand there is a healthy demand for the best – whether this is the choice of accommodation or the flight. This is why we offer the flexibility and comfort of scheduled flights, the option of private car transfers and why we only work with hotels offering the highest standards. These enhancements, even if they do cost a little extra, all contribute to the kind of individual first class holiday we know our guests expect. For those travelling with children, some hotels do not accept youngsters at certain times of the year. Other hotels, meanwhile, welcome children and have some especially attractive offers. Whilst we attempt to give as much advice as possible throughout our brochures and on this website, if you are still finding it difficult to make your choice, please do not hesitate to contact our travel consultants for further guidance. We do know the strengths and weaknesses of the individual hotels and it would be our pleasure to help you decide between them.

Before You Travel
Weather Hazards
Weather & Natural Disasters: Some of the destinations featured in our portfolio may be affected by weather patterns such as tropical storms, monsoons, hurricanes, tornadoes, cyclones, typhoons, flooding and also seismic activity causing earthquakes and tidal waves. It’s not possible for us to publish detailed information on weather patterns for each destination here or in our brochures, and weather advice can frequently change, we recommend you check the latest FCO Travel Advice for your destination. Visit www.fco.gov.uk/travel for information. When a storm or natural disaster occurs, travel and accommodation arrangements may be significantly disrupted. It is extremely difficult to predict with accuracy the actual path, duration or effect severe weather patterns and seismic activity may have and the effects of actual or threatened bad weather and natural disasters are beyond our control (please refer to our booking conditions, section “Circumstances Beyond Our Control" for details of our responsibility to you in these circumstances). If a storm or natural disaster is forecast to affect one of our destinations, we work with local and international authorities, our Health and Safety / resort teams and local agents to try to minimise disruption and keep you well informed. It may be that an evacuation of your resort, or a delay or cancellation of your flight to or from the resort may be necessary. In the event of changes to your holiday due to actual or threatened bad weather, we are not able to offer any compensation.

Health Precautions
Health facilities, hygiene and disease risks vary worldwide. You should take health advice about your specific needs as early as possible. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.hpa.org.uk and www.nathnac.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic. Please note you are strongly advised against scuba diving for 24 hours before travelling by air. Whilst many Western European and North American destinations currently have no compulsory inoculation requirements, advice about destinations can change. Customers travelling to worldwide destinations are recommended to seek advice from the sources mentioned above and, where recommended, obtain vaccinations or tablets for protection against, for example: Malaria, Hepatitis A, Polio, Typhoid and Dengue Fever. In some cases, treatments for Malaria should begin well in advance of travel.
Biting insects (including mosquitoes) are common in many countries, and they can spread disease. Insect repellents, especially those containing DEET, can be useful in helping to prevent bites. You can also reduce the risk of bites by wearing clothes that cover your skin, including your arms and legs, especially during the evening and at night.
If you are visiting a European Union (EU) country you should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and take it with you when you travel. The EHIC can be obtained free of charge by completing an application form available from main Post Offices and from www.dh.gov.uk/travellers. Please note, the EHIC is in addition to Travel Insurance, not instead of it. We would also like to draw your attention to DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and ask that for further details you consult with your doctor before travelling. Alternatively, visit the Government’s website www.dh.gov.uk/dvt

Travel Advice
The Foreign and Commonwealth Travel Advice Unit issues and frequently updates advice for those travelling outside the UK. The advice includes general warnings and specific information for the benefit of travellers. Ask your travel agent for details of any current advice for the country or countries which you plan to visit when you book your holiday. You are also advised to check this information before you go by accessing the latest Travel Advice on www.fco.gov.uk, alternatively e-mail - traveladvicepublicenquiries@fco.gov.uk or telephone the Foreign Office Travel Advice Unit on 0845 850 2829.

Disabled Travellers
Overseas Accommodation and Overseas Transport Arrangements
The majority of overseas accommodation, overseas transport (including transfers) and other holiday services provided overseas are not equipped to cater for the needs of many disabled holidaymakers. Furthermore the natural terrain and the layout of some resorts can sometimes make life difficult for wheelchair users. It is important, if you have any disability, that the appropriate enquiries are made about the suitability of particular overseas accommodation, resorts, overseas transport and services, and that you are fully satisfied you have made the correct choice before you book and confirm your holiday. Please note: if special arrangements need to be made for you an extra charge may have to be levied, this may be the case either before you go or when you arrive in resort. We cannot be held responsible if you fail to tell us about special needs/requirements that will affect your holiday experience and this means we will not compensate you. Prior to booking, please speak to our travel consultants.

UK Airports and Flight arrangements
Airlines are able to offer assistance UK airports for those passengers who need it due to disability or a medical condition. If you have a disability it is important that you make the appropriate enquiries about any special requirements well in advance of travel.

Making your booking
Passengers with reduced mobility are strongly advised to contact our travel consultants before making their reservation. This will enable our consultants to confirm availability of any assistance requirements with the airline prior to booking, as any changes made after booking will be subject to the airlines change fees. Do not hesitate to contact for further information, we will be pleased to answer any questions or queries that you may have regarding assistance.

People needing assistance at the airport
If you are a wheelchair user or have reduced mobility, you need to call us prior to booking, to request assistance service at airports. If you do not request this in advance the airlines cannot guarantee that this service will be available, as there is a limit on the number of passengers with reduced mobility and the number of wheelchairs the airline is able to assist on the day with no pre-notification. The airport will signpost designated points for passengers with reduced mobility.

Wheelchair users
If you have your own wheelchair, this will be carried free of charge in addition to your normal baggage allowance. Since a wheelchair is carried in the hold and collected in the baggage reclaim area, we advise that it is adequately insured against loss or damage since the airline liability is limited.
Electronically powered wheelchairs will be accepted for travel, providing that the general conditions for their carriage, as outlined in the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, are met. These relate to the batteries used to power wheelchairs. Since the batteries will remain attached to the wheelchair, it is important that the wheelchair can be easily stored in an upright position when collapsed for carriage. Batteries must be disconnected and the battery terminals insulated to prevent accidental shorting.

Accompanying companion for reduced mobility passengers
A carer must travel with any passenger who does not meet the DFT (Department for Transport) code of practice definition of self reliance. In establishing whether someone is “self-reliant” the DFT stipulate that the passenger should be independent in the following areas:
Feeding – the passenger should be capable of feeding themselves. Cabin crew could still expect to assist with opening food containers and describing catering arrangements to blind people.
Lifting – the passenger should be capable of moving from a passenger seat to an on-board wheelchair.
Toileting – the passenger should be capable of using the toilet facilities unaided.
Communicating – the passenger should be able to communicate with cabin crew and understand their advice/instructions.
Medicating – the passenger should be capable of administering their own medicines and medical procedures.
Breathing – the passenger should not be reliant on supplementary oxygen, if supplementary oxygen is required please let us know and we will pass on details of your requirements to the airline.
If you are not self-reliant (capable of taking care of all your physical needs independently in-flight) a carer is required for travel to take care of these needs. The carer must purchase a ticket at the same time. A carer can travel with a maximum of 2 passengers requiring additional assistance as outlined above. Due to CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) regulations, any persons with reduced mobility or any physical disability or intellectual impairment cannot be allocated seats adjacent to the emergency exits.

Visually Impaired Passengers & Guide Dogs
Passengers who are blind or visually impaired should also contact us prior to making your booking. Most airlines are able to carry guide dogs on many routes, but please advise our travel consultants you will be accompanied by your guide dog.
Please Note: We cannot be responsible if you fail to tell us about special needs/requirements that will affect your travel arrangements and this means we will not compensate you.

PASSPORTS & VISAS
The following information applies to British Citizen’s holding a UK passport issued in the UK. Non-British Citizen passport holders or British Citizens holding a UK Passport issued abroad should contact the appropriate consulate or embassy for clarification. Please note, both passport and visa regulations can change and you should therefore check with your travel agent or the relevant embassy well in advance of travel. It can often take some time to obtain a visa, so you are advised to apply in plenty of time.
Your responsibility: It is the responsibility of passengers to ensure they have valid, acceptable passports and any required visa or any other documentation for the travel they are to undertake - you must be able to meet the entry requirements for both your final destinations and any stop-off points en-route (please note, some countries require between 2/3 blank pages at the end of your passport). Passengers without the correct documentation may be refused carriage by the airline or entry into any country. Where entry is refused, fines or other financial penalty will be imposed on or by the airline and the passenger(s) concerned will be required to immediately return to their country of departure. Any passenger who travels without the required passport/visa/other documentation is solely responsible for and must immediately pay all fines, surcharges, other financial penalty, costs (including the cost of their immediate return flight) and any other sums of any description which are incurred or imposed by the airline or incurred by ourselves. This will be the case regardless of whether the lack of correct documentation is spotted at the departure airport. We can accept no liability in this situation and no compensation, expenses, refund or other sum will be paid.
Validity: A valid passport is essential when you travel abroad. Although your passport has been issued for 10 years (5 years for children) you should note that some overseas countries have an immigration requirement for a passport to remain valid for a minimum period after the date of entry to that country (typically 6 months). If your passport is in its final year of validity, you are advised to check the requirements of the destination before you make your final travel plans.
Names: At the time of booking please ensure you supply your first name and surname, (as they appear on your passport), as both of these must be stated on your flight ticket. This will reduce confusion and delays at check-in, especially when travelling to the USA. It is anticipated that customers could face more queries and delays as more countries introduce Advance Passenger Information systems. You may not be able to travel and insurance may be invalid if the name on your passport and travel documents don’t match. If, after booking a holiday but before travelling, any member of your party changes their name, e.g. as a result of getting married, we must be notified immediately so that we can make the necessary changes to your holiday documentation.
Children: are required to have their own passport.

Important Information for all passengers 
The UK Government requires Advanced Passenger Information from all passengers travelling internationally into and out of the UK. Advance Passenger Information means your passport/identity card details and in some instances, your contact information are provided to the authorities before you travel. The Airlines will only provide each country’s Customs and Immigration Authorities with the required relevant information. Some governments also require airlines to provide them with direct access to airline passenger bookings, which may contain other passenger data. It is important that the information provided is accurate so you pass through Immigration on arrival without delay. You must provide this information when you check in and we strongly recommend that you do so in advance of going to the airport.

Important information for all passengers travelling to the USA
Please read all sections carefully to ensure you comply with US entry requirements:
USA - Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS)
All travel companies and Airlines are required to provide details of the full address of your destination accommodation and country of residence and, from 2009, the name on your passport, your date of birth and passport number to the U.S authorities. This is in addition to the application you must make as part of the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) for authorisation to travel under ESTA (the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) – see below ‘USA – Travel Authorisation (ESTA) and Visa Waiver Programme’. It is important the information collected by tour operators and airlines as part of APIS is the same as the information you have submitted under ESTA as any differences may delay or prevent your entry to the USA.
USA - Passports
British passport holders travelling to the USA (or via the USA) are required to have either individual machine-readable passports or biometric passports. (If you need to check your passport we recommend you contact the UK Passport Office). Families will be required to obtain individual passports for each traveller including all children.
USA – Visa Waiver Programme (VWP)
If you have a machine readable or Biometric passport you should be able to qualify for travel (of up to 90 days) without a visa, under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP). That is, provided no one in your party has ever been arrested (even if not convicted), or if suffering from a serious communicable disease (visit: www.usembassy.org.uk for details of all restrictions). For passengers holding a non-British Passport, or, if you are unsure whether you qualify for travel under the VWP please consult the Identity & Passport Service or US Embassy. For travellers who qualify for travel under the VWP, see important details on obtaining travel authorisation below.
USA – Travel Authorisation (ESTA)
US Customs & Border Control have introduced an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA). The system is web based only and requires all passengers (including infants) travelling via or to the USA to apply for authority to travel a minimum of 72 hours prior to travel. ESTA is compulsory. You may be denied boarding or refused entry to the US if you have not registered and obtained authorisation. To apply visit https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov. It is very important that you complete your ESTA application using the exact address as displayed on the documentation you receive from your Airline/Travel Company. (If you have booked a flight only or the address of your accommodation is confirmed on arrival, please use the address as stated on your holiday invoice/tickets). Your Airline or Tour Operator will be providing accommodation details for all passengers to the U.S immigration authorities after you have departed to the U.S. If there are any differences between the Travel Company/Airline information compared to what you have written on your waiver form you may be denied entry into the USA. We recommend that you carry your ESTA approval with you when you travel. For additional information on travel to the US visit http://www.usembassy.org.uk/

HOW TO CONTACT THE PASSPORT SERVICE
General passport enquiries should be directed to the Identity and Passport Service. Please visit their website: www.ips.gov.uk or telephone: 0870 521 0410.
Apply early: If you need to apply for a passport or renew an expired passport, you should do so well in advance of travel and at least four weeks before. (If you are 16 or over and have never had a passport in your own name, you should apply for one at least six weeks before your holiday. The UK passport service has to confirm your identity before issuing your first passport and will ask you to attend an interview in order to protect your identity). Visit www.ips.gov.uk

VISA
Please always verify visa requirements at the time of booking particularly if you are planning a stay of more than 14 nights:
Australia: www.australia.org.uk (a visa may also be issued at Elegant Resorts)
Bhutan: www.fco.gov.uk
Cambodia: www.cambodianembassy.org.uk
China: www.chinese-embassy.org.uk
Egypt: At the time of going to print, visas are needed for entry into Egypt and UK passport holders can obtain them upon entry into the country
India: www.hcilondon.org
Jordan: Entry visas can be obtained on arrival or from the UK Embassy. www.jordanembassy.org.uk
Laos: There is currently no Laos representation in the UK. www.laoparis.com
Turkey: At the time of going to print, visas are needed for entry into Turkey and UK passport holders can obtain them upon entry into the country.
Vietnam: www.vietnamembassy.org.uk
Zambia: www.zhcl.org.uk
Zanzibar: Entry visas can be obtained prior to travel from the Tanzanian High Commission, London. www.tanzania-online.gov.uk

YOUR FLIGHT
Our Flights
Although our prices are based on economy class air travel, a large percentage of our clients prefer to travel in business or First class. Thanks to the excellent relationship we have with the airlines and their recognition of Elegant Resorts’ unique product, we have been able to negotiate excellent supplements for upgrading our clients’ class of travel. For business and First class clients, specific seat numbers confirmed at the time of booking are subject to change by the airline for operational reasons and are never guaranteed. Whenever we are informed of a change of seat number by the airline we shall advise you as soon as possible.

At the Airport
The following information is designed to help you complete the check in process as quickly as possible.
You are advised to check-in approximately 3 hours prior to the departure time on your flight tickets, but in all cases you must have checked-in at least 1 hour prior to departure, failure to do so could result in you being denied travel. Remember no calls will be made for your flight so please make sure that you are at the departure gate no later than 45 minutes before your departure time (60minutes for some destinations). Passengers that are refused travel will be responsible for arranging alternative transportation at their own expense.
If you fail to check in on time, the transport provider is entitled to refuse to allow you to board the flight. We cannot accept responsibility if such a situation arises and, whilst we endeavor to assist in making alternative travel arrangements to your resort, any cost or loss incurred as a result will be your responsibility.
If you fail to check in at all for your departure from the UK, we retain the right to cancel any other arrangements you have booked with us and you will be unable to use your return transport to the UK. No refund can be made for any unused arrangements.
When you arrive at the check-in desk, you will be asked for your ticket, passport and baggage. Once you have checked in, you can move through to the departure lounge where you will find further information, including your departure gate number.

Baggage
Although handling arrangements at UK departure points are excellent, there are occasions when your baggage may be delayed. A charge will be made if your hold baggage exceeds the allowance stated on your ticket. Baggage allowances vary according to the airline so always check before you travel. Individual items of luggage must not exceed 30kg for lifting purposes.
Remember to pack any medication, valuable items and photographic film in your hand luggage and not in your suitcase. Items such as knives, scissors, tweezers and laser pointers must not be carried in your hand luggage, so remember to pack them in your suitcase. Any such items or sharp objects will be confiscated if packed in your hand luggage.
For full details of items permitted on board, please check with the airline you are flying with.

Code Sharing
Some airlines now work in partnership with one another and sell seats on each other’s planes to enable more choice and better onward connections. This means that your flight may be with a different company to the one you expect.

Fitness To Fly
You may need permission from your doctor to fly if you suffer from certain medical conditions, which may mean you also require assistance from the airline. Should you have any concerns about your fitness to fly, please ask your travel consultant.

Pregnancy
Regulations vary from airline to airline, but some will refuse to carry women who will be 28 weeks pregnant or more on the date of return travel. If you are in doubt, please check with the airline concerned. We recommend that you also consult your own doctor.

Medical Equipment
If you are carrying medical/mobility equipment, you must ensure that you have adequate insurance to cover the items for possible loss or damage.

Valuables
Please remember to pack any valuables including money, credit cards, jewellery, keys and camera equipment in your hand luggage and not in your suitcase.

Hold Baggage
Your hold baggage must not exceed the stated allowance on your ticket. A charge will be made if the stated allowance is exceeded. Baggage allowances range from 15kg up to 30kg. Individual items of luggage must not exceed 30kg for lifting purposes.

Airport Security
Nowadays, there are much tighter security measures at all airports. To make your travel experience as pleasant as possible, we suggest you allow extra time for checking-in. Full details of suggested check-in times will be highlighted on your itinerary. May we also remind you that certain items are not allowed to be carried in your hand luggage and must be checked-in and placed in the hold. Detailed information of such items will be highlighted on your itinerary.

Safety
Safety: the safety and welfare of passengers is of paramount importance. You will be denied boarding or have imposed additional conditions of carriage if any passenger:
• is intoxicated and or disruptive.
• found to be smoking on board the aircraft.
• makes an inappropriate remark. Inappropriate remarks are considered as any comment or statement made by a person, which indicates they may be carrying a bomb (or other such explosive device), a firearm or weapon regardless of that person’s intent or reason for making the comment or statement.
Passengers that are refused travel will be responsible for arranging alternative transportation at their own expense.
We realise that some passengers, may find that aircraft seat width is insufficient for their needs. For your own safety and comfort and that of other passengers, you must advise us or your travel agent at the time of booking if you know or are unsure as to whether the seat size on the aircraft will be sufficient for your needs. If you do require additional space, then subject to availability, you can purchase more than one seat located side by side or if you prefer, a wider seat in an upgraded class (where applicable). We regret however, that due to additional costs incurred by us, you will have to pay the full cost of all seats required by you, plus any upgrade supplement per seat.

Smoking
Please note that whatever airline you fly with, all UK airlines have a strict no-smoking policy throughout the aircraft.

Sporting Equipment
Most airlines can accept most types of sports equipment - charges apply. All such items will travel on a weight and space-permitting basis only. You should also have insurance for these items.

Carriage of Golf Clubs
Some airlines will agree to carry half a set of golf clubs within your baggage allowance. Charges will however be made by some airlines for carriage of golf clubs, payable either at the time of booking, or at the airport prior to departure. If you are planning to take golf clubs, please contact the relevant airline at the time of booking, and they will be able to provide details of prices. It is in your interest to have your golf clubs insured. We advise that all courses require official proof of handicap. We strongly advise golfers to pre-book car hire. Although public transport/taxis will probably be available from all of our recommended accommodation, arrangement may be costly and/or time consuming.

Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a serious condition where blood clots develop in the deep veins of the legs. Prolonged immobility is generally thought to be the common underlying risk factor, and thus any travel involving prolonged immobility can result in developing a DVT. A wide range of advice is available on DVT - you are strongly recommended to obtain advice that will include information on those people most at risk of DVT and how to reduce risks when flying. Most passengers can reduce risks through keeping circulation active by practicing in-seat exercises, especially leg exercises, and walking around the aircraft whenever possible. Most airlines provide details of suitable exercises you can do and other measures you can take to reduce risks within their in-flight magazines or during in-flight videos. More comprehensive advice can be found on the UK Department of Health's website (www.dh.gov.uk) but if you believe you are at a higher risk or have any concerns about the risks or doubts about flying, you must consult your GP before you travel.

Seat Pitch
We advise that the distance between the back support cushion of your flight seat and the back of the seat or other fixed structure in front of your seat will not be less than the minimum stated in the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s Airworthiness Notice No.64, issue 2 of the 29th October 2001 (26 inches).

Airport Transfers
Our featured hotel prices include transfers to your chosen destination if required. Helicopter transfers and car hire are available on request.

YOUR ACCOMMODATION
Single Travellers & Children’s Prices
Please call our travel consultants for a tailor-made price.

Local Charges
At some accommodation certain amenities may carry a local charge. Unless we have stated that a service or facility is ‘free’ in our accommodation descriptions, you may be asked to pay a charge. Here are a few examples of what you might expect to pay for locally, but always check first as there may be others.
• Property owners may charge guests to use sun loungers / parasols around swimming pools and on private beaches.
• Entertainment and activities away from your accommodation.
• Highchairs, cots, hotel run Children’s Clubs and meals for infants.
• Meals and beverages from restaurants and bars at your accommodation.
• Safety deposit facilities, room service, mini-bar, TV/ satellite TV, telephone calls, air-conditioning and sea views.
• Facilities and equipment such as spas, whirlpools, indoor pools, sauna, table tennis, billiards and darts and other sporting equipment.
Special Offers: Any offers we make available are dependent on certain conditions being fulfilled. These are carefully detailed against the offer but please ask if you are unsure. Some offers must be booked at the time you make your reservation. Others are subject to availability on your arrival at the hotel but must be requested when you book the holiday. To gain the best from the offers featured please read the conditions carefully. Please note that some of the offers cannot be combined.

Free Night Offers
To benefit from a free night offer, your stay must include consecutive nights and satisfy all the qualifying dates and details shown.

Complimentary Room Upgrades
Where applicable and unless otherwise stated, offers of room upgrades shown in the brochure will be determined by availability when you travel and your room will be allocated on arrival at the accommodation. If your room is upgraded, please note that this will not necessarily be to the next highest category featured in our brochure, as we do not sell all room types at all hotels.

Hotel Run Kids Club
Standards and facilities at kids club's featured on this website or in our brochures may vary. We are unable to accept responsibility for or give any guarantee for the standard of the facilities and qualifications of personnel at hotel run clubs. Kids club(s) may not meet standards of similar facilities in the UK and guests are strongly advised to remember that local standards and requirements in respect of such clubs may differ overseas and so you must ensure that you are completely satisfied with the facilities and staff providing this service before you enrol your child or children into the club and into the clubs' care.

Groups & Conventions
Some of the larger hotels play host to groups and conventions and we shall do our utmost to let you know at enquiry stage if any of these groups coincide with your chosen holiday. However, sometimes we are not informed and unfortunately we have not control over the situation whatsoever.

Early Check In & Late Check Out
At some of our featured destinations, flight arrival times are early in the morning and you will arrive at your accommodation before the normal check-in time. In these circumstances, it is highly recommended that accommodation is reserved from the night before allowing an immediate check–in. Similarly, many flight departure times are late in the evening, after normal check out time. In this instance, we recommend accommodation is reserved until the day after departure allowing a late check-out. Our travel consultants will advise you at the time of booking if either of these situations apply to your individual holiday arrangements.

Accommodation Maintenance
From time to time it will be necessary for certain facilities to be withdrawn for general maintenance purposes. We will do our upmost to advise you at the time of enquiry.

SPECIFIC VILLA INFORMATION
Choosing your Villa
All our featured properties are chosen with the utmost care and we are confident that within their various categories, they offer the highest standards of accommodation and service available. They are not all necessarily sophisticated - some of the destinations have been selected for their natural beauty rather than their amenities and the properties will reflect this. Choosing the property that is right for you is an important decision but since we know them all intimately, it is a choice we will be delighted to help you make.
NB: some of the featured villas may be affected by ongoing building work nearby. Please ask your travel consultant for further details before booking.

Meals and Meal Times
If your villa has appropriate resident staff, it is probably a good idea to discuss your dining preferences, including preferred meal times, with either the housekeeper or the cook, the morning after your arrival. If you have any particular dietary requirements, such as vegetarian meals, we would ask you to let us know in advance. Most menus tend to be planned around local produce, and the staff are best placed to know which shops and markets are suitable for such purposes. In the Caribbean, the cook or housekeeper will be happy to do your shopping for you, however, please note that in many cases you will be responsible for their transportation to and from the supermarket. Food and drink can either be paid for at the end of every shopping expedition, on a weekly basis, or at the end of your stay. To prevent any unwelcome surprises though, it is always a good idea to keep track of the amount. The supermarkets do accept major credit cards but please note that if you are paying the staff directly, only cash or travellers’ cheques are accepted.

Minimum Letting Period
The minimum letting period for all of our featured villas is one week, although shorter stays may be allowed at some properties on request. During high season, this may increase to two weeks or four weeks depending on the destination, so do please check with our travel consultants.

Villa Occupancy
Reservations will only be held for those clients detailed in the original reservation. Please note that we will not accept any more clients than the villa maximum occupancy allows. We must be advised of any additional guests not included in the original reservation and these will be charged as extra.

Food & Drink Arrival Packs
When not included in the price, details of food packs can be given and we highly recommend that you request one to be placed in your villa. A standard arrival pack includes drinks and food items suitable for your first dinner and breakfast, although groceries can easily be provided for weekend and holiday arrivals. Payable locally, prices do vary and full details will be given to you at the time of booking.

Staff Gratuities
The giving of staff gratuities at the very end of your stay is customary although this would obviously be commensurate with the level of service you have received. Gratuities are normally calculated as a percentage of staff salary. Further details and guidelines on gratuities will be given to you at the time of booking.

Babysitting
Daytime or evening babysitting can easily be arranged and costs are paid directly to the sitter. It is normal courtesy for clients to arrange and cover the costs of a taxi for the evening babysitters after 11pm.

Telephone & Fax Machines
Most of our villas have telephones and you will be pleased to know on some of the Caribbean islands local calls are free of charge. However, some villas have an automatic debar on international calls. In general, you will be asked to settle any telephone charges on departure, but if this is not possible, a bill will be forwarded onto the UK for settlement.

Rental of Sundry Items for Infants
We can arrange rental of cots, high chairs, car sets, playpens, pushchairs and most other infant equipment.

Local Representatives, Excursions & Car Hire
Our local representatives can be contacted throughout your holiday to help, assist and provide you with information. Hiring a car will enhance any villa holiday and this can be easily arranged through our travel consultants. Please ensure you take a British driving licence with you. Car costs vary considerably depending on the country and it’s important to note that during the high season you should reserve your car at the time of booking to avoid disappointment.

Early Check In & Late Check Out
As with most hotels, villas have a standard check-out time between the hours of 10am and 12 noon. However if the villa is not expecting guests on the day of your departure, arrangements can be made for a late check-out to accommodate guests leaving on early evening flights. Usually, extra charges will apply. Alternatively, if the villa is located close to one of our featured hotels, we would be more than happy to try and arrange a day room on your behalf.

SPECIFIC SKI INFORMATION
Ski Arrangements
Lift passes, ski and boot hire within Europe (excluding Courcheval and Meribel where we offer a pre-booking service) are normally arranged and purchased upon arrival with the help of the hotels’ concierge or our local representative (where applicable). We also recommend pre-booking lift passes, ski and boot hire within the USA and Canada (excluding Tremblant) to take advantage of early booking discounts. Please let us know prior to travel if you are taking your own skis or snowboards so that we can forward this information on to both the airline and the transfer company. For tuition (private or group), ski kindergarten and/or crèche reservations, pre-booking is highly recommended and often essential.

Ski Club of Great Britain
Elegant Resorts is affiliated to the Ski Club of Great Britain, which has over 30,000 members. Belonging to the UK’s largest snow sports club will mean you can ski for free with Ski Club Reps in 42 resorts worldwide, save money on equipment, clothing and artificial slopes, plus have access to the most up-to-date snow sports information in the country.
Call 0845 45 807 83 or visit www.skiclub.co.uk to join online – then you can enjoy the benefits of being a member immediately!
The ski club of Great Britain also offers snow reports from over 250 resorts in Europe and North America. For the latest information, visit www.skiclub.co.uk where you will find:
• Snow reports updated daily for over 249 resorts
• Snow reports direct from Ski club Reps in 42 resorts
Snow Reports on the Move
If you can’t get to your computer, you can still receive the latest snow reports by SMS.
• Single Text Alerts – single snow report, text ski + resort name to 83141 (e.g. ‘ski vail’)
• Daily Text Alerts – to subscribe and receive daily snow reports Mon – Fri, text ski daily + resort name to 83141 (e.g. ‘ski daily vail’). Calls cost £1/min (calls from mobiles may vary). One-off texts cost 50p, 5-day texts cost 25p per text (all texts are plus your normal network operator rate). Service operated by iTouch UL Ltd, London EC2A 4PF in conjunction with the Ski Club of Great Britain. This information is the most up-to-date and accurate snow information you will find.

SPECIFIC CRUISE INFORMATION
Luggage Allowance
A luggage allowance of a minimum of 15kgs will usually apply to your booking. Cruise luggage allowances are determined by the airlines and cruise operators. Where you book a combination of both flight and cruise the lowest luggage allowance will apply. Excess baggage charges will apply if you exceed your luggage allowance.

Service Charges and Tipping
Service Charges and Tipping vary between cruise operators. Service charges and tips are generally applied in recognition of the service you receive on board from all members of the crew, in a variety of locations. Many more crew behind the scenes support those who serve you directly and for this reason some cruise operators may require payment of service charges or tips in advance of travel. In some cases these service charges will be payable at the time of booking and shown on your confirmation invoice, in other cases they will automatically be added to your onboard ship account. Where charges are made at the time of booking and shown on our website and included on your confirmation invoices, these charges may range from around $10-13 per person per day (or UK equivalent in sterling depending on the cruise ship). It may be possible to request these charges are removed from your booking and added to your on-board ship account. Please enquire with us at the time of booking.
Please note that some cruise operators may leave tips at your discretion on board, or may expect you to reward good service in addition to payment of the pre-payable service charge. Where gratuities are payable onboard for e.g. drinks, beauty treatments, it is suggested that the amount of 10-15% is appropriate.
For further details please enquire at the time of booking.

Infant Minimum Age to Travel
The minimum age for infants to travel on a cruise is usually 6 months, however on selected cruises infants must be a minimum age of 12 months.

Pregnancy
For medical reasons, cruise ship operators do not allow expectant mother’s in or over their 24th week of pregnancy to travel on board a cruise ship.

Swimming Pool Restrictions
On certain cruises, children under 2 are not permitted to use the swimming pools. Due to U.S Public Health Service (USPHS) regulations, young children in nappies/pull ups (including swim safe varieties) may not use the pools or whirlpools. Please check details at the time of booking.

Smoking
Smoking will not be permitted in public areas of the cruise ship, although there will be designated areas on board the ship where you will be able to smoke.

Laundry Facilities
There will be laundry and dry cleaning facilities available on the cruise and prices will vary by garment type. On selected cruise ships there may also be a self-service laundry available.

Dining Times
There are usually two seating times for meals in the main restaurant on an evening, these times will vary for different cruise operators, the times will usually be between 6pm-9pm, although there will be other options available on board the cruise. Some cruise ships may also offer 24-hour room service.

Voltage
The onboard voltage on the majority of cruises is 110/220AC.

Payment for Onboard Purchases
On most cruise ships a credit account system will be operated. This usually requires the pre-registering of a credit card. All on board purchases will then be signed to your account which will then be required to be settled at the end of your cruise. If you do not have a credit card to pre-register you will be required to deposit a minimum of £150 cash per passenger per day, or the equivalent, with the cashier on day 1 of the Cruise. This amount must be replenished during the cruise when expenses exceed the deposit. If all the deposit is not used then the balance will be returned with the bill. Most of the cruise ship operators will not accept personal cheques and certain bankcards please check before you travel.

Disabled Travellers and Passengers with Reduced Mobility
You acknowledge that medical care while on a cruise ship may be limited or delayed and that the ship may travel to destinations where medical care is unavailable. Certain international safety requirements, shipbuilding requirements and/or applicable regulations may cause difficulty for mobility-impaired persons or persons with severely impaired sight and/or hearing. If you require the use of a wheelchair you must provide your own as any wheelchairs available on cruise ships are for emergency use only. For convenience and comfort collapsible wheelchairs are strongly recommended. Standard cabins on cruise ships are not designed to be barrier free and wheelchair accessible. You must be physically fit to undertake the holiday. You must be self sufficient and/or must travel with a companion able to provide any assistance needed during the holiday.
You may not be able to participate in certain activities or programs either on board the ship or onshore at ports of call if to do so would create a risk of harm to yourself or any other person.

Embarkation
Embarkation at most cruise terminals will commence approximately 2-3 hours prior to sailing with all passengers required to be checked in no later than 1 and half hours before the particular cruise sailing time. Exact details of when/where to check in will be detailed on your cruise tickets/information.

YOUR RESORT
Resort Development
Some of the destinations on this website and in our brochures are still being developed and even in more established resorts there is often a possibility of building work taking place. If in our opinion this is likely to affect your booked accommodation, we will tell you at the time of booking or, if you have already booked, you will be contacted before departure if there is time. Please refer to the Booking Conditions, section ‘Circumstances beyond our control’ for more information.

Local Information
Local events, religious festivities and public holidays are likely to influence the provision of services and facilities within the hotels and around holiday resorts at certain times.
In India and Sri Lanka local elections are organized normally once a year, on a date announced by the government less than a month before they are to be held. During election days (usually 3 days) the public sale or consumption of alcoholic drinks is prohibited.
In Muslim countries, dates of religious feasts and festivals are fixed by local sightings of the moon so we cannot work out when they will be beforehand.
Ramadan, which is observed for one month each year, is a period of fasting when the pace of life is slower, public areas are busier and there are certain restrictions, for example, consuming food in public, drinking alcohol and use of restaurants’. Ramadan is expected to run for a month from approximately 11 August 2010. Also the Muslim New Year is different to the Christian one and during this period many shops and restaurants may be closed. Check out the FCO travel advice on www.fco.gov.uk for more information on specific countries and the possible impact of holidays and events. You will also find information on website of the relevant British Embassy.
Chinese New Year is a major celebration throughout Asia so flights and hotels may be extremely busy during this time. Most ethnic Chinese businesses, including shops and restaurants (but not hotels), close totally. In 2010, the Chinese New Year is 14 February.
If you are concerned about the possible impact of holidays and events or would like to know more, please contact the appropriate tourist board.

Prescription Drugs
As with the vast majority of countries around the world, including the UK, drugs are illegal in Dubai. Dubai has a very clear policy regarding drug trafficking, smuggling and possession and some UK medicines including various over the counter medicines such as codeine will require an accompanying doctor’s note or prescription to authenticate its use. For a full list of restricted and controlled medicines in Dubai visit www.moh.gov.ae

Driving
Laws, licensing requirements and age limits vary throughout the world. We recommend you check with your travel agent, or the relevant embassy or consulate.

Watersports & Sporting Activities
We refer to a number of watersports and other sporting activities within the brochure, most of these are neither owned nor operated by Elegant Resorts and we cannot guarantee that they are maintained or operated with the customer's safety in mind.
We would ask that you take all reasonable precautions to protect yourself and your party whilst on holiday and would recommend that you only use companies who demonstrate good safety practices. You should ensure watersports and other similar sporting activities you wish to take part in are covered by your own holiday insurance. Some activities/watersports may be considered to be hazardous pursuits by some insurance companies.

Electricity
Depending on your location, there may be blackouts. Please be patient whilst the hotel rectifies the situation.

Smoking
Restrictive legislation against smoking is increasingly common in destinations worldwide. You may find that your hotel or areas within your hotel and holiday resort operate enforced smoking restrictions. In Sri Lanka smoking is not permitted in public areas. Fines may be imposed for breaching regulations. To find out more visit the FCO website www.fco.gov.uk

THE PRICE
Our Pricing
All prices and offers shown throughout this website or our brochures are for guidance only and subject to availability at the time of booking. Our holiday prices are based on specially negotiated airline, hotel and transfer rates, which can increase, decrease or be restricted. Should our special rates not be available, we shall advise you immediately and offer you the option to reserve your holiday at the higher published rates. We reserve the right to change prices. We advise that you contact us for the most up-to-date holiday price. A tailor-made quotation will be provided at the time of your enquiry.
What the price includes:
Unless otherwise stated, all prices shown throughout this website or in our brochures include the following:
• All international and internal flights (where applicable and excluding UK regional flights)
• Accommodation (grade as shown) based on two persons sharing
• Private transfers (shared for some destinations)
• Meals as shown (where applicable) *
• ATOL Protection (APC)
• Taxes & Charges
• Air Passenger Duty & Security
• Aviation Fuel Costs
*Restrictions may apply at hotel restaurants – e.g. when a price is based on half or full board basis and there is more than one restaurant at the hotel, some of the restaurants may levy an additional supplement or give a credit towards a meal in another restaurant. Unless otherwise stated all extras will be at a charge.
What the price excludes:
• Where spa or beauty facilities are listed, treatments will be at an additional cost unless otherwise stated
• Insurance
• Optional Excursions
• Charges made by the accommodation – See local charges
• Credit Card charges – Prices advertised on the website apply to payments made by debit card. A charge will apply to payments made by credit card, please ask for details.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Safety & Hygiene
Your health and safety is of paramount concern to us, especially if children are involved. In addition to monitoring the hygiene and safety standards in all the hotel and apartments that we use, it is appropriate that we bring to your attention the need for you to be careful and to take necessary precautions whilst overseas and we need your help and cooperation with this. We would ask you to pay close attention to the following information, together with any other information we, our agents or suppliers, provide to you before you go, during your flight and when you arrive in your destination and at your hotel. It is most important that you familiarise yourself with this information and any other information you are given or on display, because not only do we want you to have a great holiday but we want you to have a safe holiday.

Swimming pools and water features
Every pool is different and most hotels / apartments do not employ lifeguards, so you are strongly recommended to familiarise yourself with the pool layout, identifying the deep and shallow ends before using. Do not use the pool after dark or when the pool is closed, even if the pool has underwater lights. You should never swim when you have been drinking alcohol.

Overseas Safety Standards
Although our featured accommodation does operate to its own country’s standards, regrettably the safety standards and regulations overseas may not be of the same level that we enjoy in the UK. The setting and enforcement of local regulations is a matter for the Authorities of the country and the foreign supplier of the services concerned. We are working to improve standards wherever possible. You should familiarise yourself with fire procedures, including emergency exits in your accommodation, the swimming pool(s) area. If in doubt, ask your representative or an appropriate member of staff.

Security, Health & Safety Overseas
Health & safety is a prime subject for everyone who travels the world today and we would ask that you observe good housekeeping habits and a common sense approach. Your personal welfare is our priority and we ask that you are fully aware of security, health & safety whilst overseas. Petty crime, robberies and muggings can occur anywhere in the world, although the chances of anything unpleasant happening will be considerably reduced if you take a few simple precautions. Whilst out and about, try not to carry a lot of cash with you and always leave your passport, unnecessary travellers cheques and any expensive jewellery in a secure place.

Children
Children must be supervised by you at all times, especially near water, on balconies or in unfamiliar buildings and surroundings.

Stomach Upsets
It is still a relatively common occurrence to suffer gastric illness when traveling abroad and being exposed to a different environment. There are many ways you can reduce the possibility of being affected, such as, not eating undercooked food, avoiding ice in drinks, ensuring you drink plenty of bottled water and avoid over exposure to the sun.

Out and About
Due to rough terrain and uneven surfaces, we recommend that you are extra careful and vigilant when visiting temples and other sites of interest and when crossing roads. Crimes against people and property are a fact of life throughout the world and you have the same responsibility for your own safety as you do at home. In some places the local police may not be very cooperative or interested when you report a theft or need insurance confirmation so always take care of your property. It is recommended not to approach cats and dogs and other animals as these may carry the rabies disease which can be passed on through bites and scratches. Please exercise caution before entering the sea, as the seabed is not even and changes in depth. The sea is capable of springing surprises and we have not inspected the beach or seabed for its safety. When sea bathing, do be aware of sea urchins – their spikes can be very painful – and, in the Caribbean, watch out for the apples of the Machineel trees, which are poisonous.

Data Protection
To comply with the Data Protection Act we would like to advise you that in order to provide you with the products or services you require, the personal information you supply to us will be passed to relevant trusted partners or suppliers. This may involve sending your details to countries that do not have an equal level of privacy legislation to that in the UK. Your details may also be used for improving our customer service, analysis and occasionally, for the prevention of crime.
We may also occasionally contact you by post or telephone to update you about great offers, products and services. Should you not wish to receive such information, please advise one of our travel consultants.

ABTA – The Travel Association
Elegant Resorts Ltd is amember of ABTA with the membership number V1712. ABTA and ABTA 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 by ABTA’s Code of Conduct. For further information about ABTA, the Code of Conduct and the arbitration scheme available to you if you have a complaint, contact ABTA, 30 Park Street, London SE1 9EQ Tel: 020 3117 0500 or look at our website
www.abta.com

Your Financial Protection
When you buy an ATOL protected air package or flight from us you will receive a confirmation invoice from us (or via our authorised agent through which you booked) confirming your arrangements and your protection under our Air Travel Organiser’s Licence number 2885 (Elegant Resorts Ltd). In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the CAA will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid to us for an advance booking. For further information visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk.
The price of your holiday includes the amount of £2.50 per person as part of the ATOL Protection Contribution (APC) we pay to the CAA. This charge is included in our advertised prices but will be shown separately on your confirmation invoice.
Where you book a package holiday from our website which does not include a flight, we provide security by way of a bond held by ABTA. If you book arrangements other than a package holiday or flight from us, the financial protection does not apply.

Telephone Calls
To ensure we consistently deliver excellent customer service, telephone calls to Elegant Resorts UK offices are recorded.