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IMPORTANT HOLIDAY INFORMATION & BOOKING CONDITIONS

It is our sincere wish that you thoroughly enjoy your Travel Collection holiday so we would appreciate if you would take the time to read the following information which we hope you will find useful. This and other information from ourselves forms the contract between you and us.

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QUICKLINKS:
1. BOOKING & PAYING FOR YOUR HOLIDAY
2. OUR HOLIDAYS
3. IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE OR CANCEL YOUR HOLIDAY
4. IF WE WANT TO CHANGE OR CANCEL YOUR HOLIDAY
5. BEFORE YOUR HOLIDAY
6. ON HOLIDAY
7. ON RETURN FROM YOUR HOLIDAY

BOOKING & PAYING FOR YOUR HOLIDAY

1.1 Your Commitment to Us

When you wish to confirm a holiday booking you must pay a deposit of £150 per person or any higher deposit which applies to your holiday, which will be advised at the time of booking. Once a booking is confirmed, our invoice is sent showing details of the arrangements made.
It shall be deemed that you have understood and accepted on behalf of yourself and all members of your party our Important Holiday Information which forms our booking conditions unless within 7 days of the date of invoice we have received an objection in writing. All contracts with the Travel Collection are made subject to these booking conditions and are subject to English law and the jurisdiction of the English Courts or, if your booking was made in Scotland, to Scottish law and jurisdiction. Many airlines now require the full name of all passengers travelling. We will therefore ask you at the time of booking to provide us with your first forename (as shown in your passport) as well as your title and surname.
When booking your holiday, if you wish to make a modification to an advertised holiday we will try to assist. However, due to the nature of our holidays changes will not always be possible. Prices for any additional services will be quoted for upon request. Should you wish to extend your holiday making your own private arrangements, this can usually be done subject to a charge of £3 per person per night.

1.2 Our Commitment To You

Your contract is with Kuoni Travel Ltd trading as The Travel Collection. We will arrange to provide you with the various services which form part of the holiday you book with us. Before your booking is confirmed and a contract comes into existence we reserve the right to increase or decrease advertised prices or change any of the information contained in our adverts. Changes will be made known to you before you book. The prices we advertise are based on specially negotiated airfares to be booked in a specific airline booking class. At the time of booking, if there is a lack of availability in the specified class on any particular flight, we will endeavour to secure seats for you in an alternative economy class and you will be told the amount of the applicable flight supplement before you book. A booking is not accepted until we issue an invoice. The date shown on the invoice, which will be sent to you is the date of booking. It is important to check the details on the invoice when you get it. In the event of any discrepancy please contact us immediately.

1.3 Peak Season Supplements

During peak periods such as Christmas and Easter when demand outstrips the supply of airline seats and accommodation, you may find that supplements are added to the cost of your holiday. The supplements may be for certain holiday departures and/or accommodation on specific dates. They do not necessarily indicate that additional services such as Gala dinners will be provided. The cost of these supplements will be quoted to you at the time of booking.

1.4 Paying For Your Holiday

After your booking is taken and a deposit received, a balance invoice will be sent to you detailing the total cost due. Full payment is due not less than 61 days before departure. If you do not pay in full 61 days before departure, we reserve the right to cancel your booking, and cancellation charges will apply. If you make a holiday booking within 61 days of your departure date then you must pay the full cost of the holiday at the booking stage.

1.5 Insurance

It is important that you have insurance cover and that it is adequate for your needs. You can take out cover through The Travel Collection, in which case the premium will be added at the time of booking. Should you decide to arrange a policy yourself, please check carefully to ensure that it provides an equal or higher level of cover. Travel insurance sold by The Travel Collection is only valid for UK residents. For those who participate in sports and activities whilst on holiday that have been organised and arranged independently of us, it should be understood that participation is at the individual's own risk and it is your responsibility to obtain the relevant insurance.

1.6 Travel Information And Documents

You should receive with your invoice a copy of our detailed information sheets regarding your particular holiday. We strongly recommend that you read these as they contain important information regarding your holiday. Approximately 7 days before departure you will receive your flight tickets together with an itinerary. However, in the case of late payment and/or late bookings, tickets may be handed to you at the airport on departure. Please ensure that you check the flight timings on your tickets carefully. The correct timings, using the 24 hour clock system, may have been adjusted since we published the brochure and since you received your invoice.

OUR HOLIDAYS

2.1 Choosing Your Holiday

We hope that your Travel Collection holiday will live up to your expectations so it is very important that you choose the right holiday for you. Space in our adverts to give detailed information is limited but there is more information online at www.travelcollection.co.uk and our staff are always happy to advise and give you their professional opinion.

2.2 Hotel Gradings

We categorise all hotels as medium, first or deluxe class to give a general guide. However, standards can vary between hotels of the same class in different countries, and even in the same country. For example city hotels which often cater for business as well as leisure travellers may well have generally higher standards than a beach resort hotel where the whole atmosphere will tend to be more relaxed. It is important to read carefully the individual hotel descriptions. Accommodation in all hotels, whatever the rating, is in standard rooms based on twins or doubles unless otherwise stated.

2.3 Single Rooms/Twin Or Double

Unfortunately single travellers often have to pay over the odds for a room, often up to twice the price each person in a twin room might have to pay. Where possible we have negotiated some excellent deals for singles. However, please note that the standard and location of single rooms is not always as good as that of twin/double rooms even when you pay the single supplement.
On safari, excursions and touring holidays single rooms cannot always be guaranteed. Supplements paid will be refunded if a single room previously confirmed is not available.
i) Why are single travellers asked to pay more for their room?
If a single person occupies a double room they will usually be asked to pay extra (a single supplement). Hotels price their rooms, as doubles or family rooms and they do not reduce the rates if it is occupied by a single person. The costs to the hotel of providing the room - heating, lighting, cleaning etc are the same regardless of how many people occupy that room.
ii) Why are single rooms sometimes smaller than doubles or family rooms?
Hotel design may mean that single rooms are smaller and sometimes less well appointed. While there is normally a supplement for these rooms, the overall cost will usually be less than when a single person occupies a double room.

2.4 Triple/Quad Rooms

A third or fourth person sharing a room either shares existing beds or has an extra bed (which may be of campbed style) placed in a double/twin room. As conditions may be cramped you may wish to consider booking two rooms.

2.5 Booking A Room For Early Arrival Or Late Departure

Generally hotel rooms will be available between approximately noon and 3 pm, and are to be vacated between 10 am and noon, irrespective of your arrival or departure times, unless we have stated otherwise. Should you wish your room to be ready prior to noon on your day of arrival or available after 10 am for an afternoon or evening departure, it is often possible to reserve the room at the time of booking at extra cost.

2.6 All Inclusive

All Inclusive does not necessarily mean that unlimited food and beverages are available 24 hours a day. Hotels often place restrictions on restaurants and meal arrangements. Individual hotels operate different policies and full details will be provided locally.

2.7 Passports/Visas

You will need a full 10 year passport to travel to the destinations we feature. As many countries require expiry dates on passports to be a considerable length of time after the return from holiday, we would recommend that your passport is valid for 6 months after return to the UK. Many countries including USA now require children to hold their own passports and additional countries are adopting this policy on an ongoing basis. We therefore recommend that all children travel on full passports.
Some destinations also require visas, we can only advise of the requirements for British and Irish passport holders. For British subjects, British and Irish passports endorsed in any way and all other passport holders, requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy.
USA REQUIREMENTS: The US Government has reinforced their entry regulations making some important changes which are now in effect. Flight routings via the USA are common for holidays to South America, Central America and the Caribbean, please note these regulations apply to all passengers, even if only in transit between two flights.
. All passports must be machine readable ie: red passports. If you still have an old blue passport you will need to obtain a visa before travelling, or apply for a new passport.
Passports issued on or after October 26 2006, must also include an integrated circuit chip capable of storing the biographic information from the data page, a digitized photograph and other biometric information.
NB: Some passports issued by British Consular posts abroad may not be machine readable - please check with the UK Passport Service on 0870 521 0410 or www.passport.gov.uk for further information.
. The US Government now requires all passengers entering the US to provide details of their country of residence, as well as full postal address of the first US hotel. This information is currently being collected by the airline upon check-in. The airline will also collect details of your passport number and country of issue, citizenship, full names as they appear on your passport, gender and date of birth, all of which is obtained by swiping your passport at the check-in desk.
US Customs will not allow entry to anyone with incorrect papers.
All British passport holders will be required to complete a USA waiver form on the aircraft. For all non British passport holders including British subjects should check with the relevant Embassy at the earliest opportunity for the latest information. There are certain exceptions where British passport holders do require a visa for entering the USA, which must be obtained prior to travel. For full advice on this please visit the US embassy website on www.usembassy.org.uk or phone 09055 444546.
In most cases, where we have indicated visas are required, the Kuoni Visa Service: In most cases, where we have indicated visas are required, the Kuoni Travel Visa Service can obtain these for you. Full details on how to obtain a visa, cost and application time will be sent with your confirmation invoice, these are all subject to change. Residents outside the UK, non British passport holders and late booking passengers should check urgently with Kuoni Travel Visa Service or the embassy direct as it may not be possible to obtain the visa in time prior to arrival. For your enquiries on the indicated destinations please contact the Kuoni Travel Visa Service on visa@kuoni.co.uk or telephone 0207 616 1050.

2.8 Children On Holiday

Our holidays are generally aimed towards a grown-up market and children are not accepted on a number of our holidays. However, please note that even on these holidays there may still be children staying at the hotels or at sites visited. On holidays where children are accepted the holiday may not be suitable for children of all ages. Please remember that some destinations, owing to their lack of special child or medical facilities are not suitable for very young children and touring holidays with long days and sight-seeing may be too much for younger children. On holidays where children are accepted Infants under the age of 2 years on the date of return flight pay from £95 when travelling in economy, other classes of air travel available on request. Any charge for a baby cot in the room and food are paid by the guest direct to the hotel and there is no entitlement to a separate seat on the aircraft if the flight is full. International airline regulations allow only one infant per adult.

2.9 Holiday Seasons

Most of the destinations we feature are available all year round. Some do have quieter 'off peak' periods when you can take advantage of uncrowded beaches and more personal attention from hotel staff at excellent prices. At this time it may be necessary for hotels to scale down the size of some of their facilities, such as restaurants, to match demand. Similarly, during peak periods hotels experience full occupancy which may result in a livelier atmosphere and slower service in busier facilities.

2.10 Health, Safety and Security Abroad

We take the safety and security of our clients extremely seriously. If the Foreign Office advises that people should not visit a particular country, then we would act on this and reserve the right to cancel your holiday. However we are sure you appreciate from press and television coverage that the political, economic and social conditions in many of the countries we feature are not as stable as we are used to in Europe. Sadly crimes against both people and their property are a fact of life the world over, and when in a foreign country it is very important to be extra vigilant and avoid drawing attention to yourself by wearing expensive jewellery, carrying expensive camera equipment etc. Travellers have the same responsibility for their personal safety and that of their possessions, as they do at home.
Our holidays operate to many parts of the world, some of which do not conform to British health and safety standards. We request that all hotels comply with the local regulations applicable in their country for health and safety but we cannot guarantee that these meet British standards and therefore urge that you undertake reasonable precautions to protect your family and yourself whilst on holiday.
To make the most of your trip abroad, check out the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website at www.fco.gov.uk/travel.
Packed with essential travel advice and tips, this website offers a wealth of country-specific information that only the FCO can provide. Foreign Office advice is also displayed on BBC2 (Ceefax) page 470 onwards or you may wish to contact the Foreign Office Travel Advice Unit on 0845 850 2829.

2.11 Public Holidays

Virtually all countries have public holidays, religious or otherwise. The festivities may temporarily disrupt your holiday and some religious holidays such as Ramadan, which affects many Muslim countries may result in a reduction of facilities and entertainment. Others are somewhat chaotic but great fun to be a part of. We suggest that you take this into consideration when selecting your departure date and will try to include all major dates in your detailed information sheets. The appropriate tourist offices are happy to supply information or you may wish to refer to the internet.

2.12 Other Hotel Guests

Many hotels, especially in cities and major resorts, accommodate conventions and conferences. Also, at certain times of the year, some destinations have an influx of groups such as students, associations or clubs. The hotels we feature are shared with guests from many countries with different cultures and customs. We have no control over the acceptance of bookings at the hotels we feature other than our own. We are therefore unable to accept any responsibility for any inconvenience caused by such groups or their activities.

2.13 Meals

Meals if included are based on table d'hôte menus, or a meal voucher system unless specified otherwise in the text. Holidays which include main meals generally commence with dinner on the day of arrival at your hotel and terminate with breakfast (on halfboard) or lunch (on fullboard) on the day of departure. No refunds on meals not taken can be given. Special diets of any kind (including vegetarian) cannot always be catered for adequately within the constraints of a table d'hôte menu and cannot be guaranteed. We would therefore strongly recommend that anyone with special requirements takes a holiday where no meals (or only breakfast) are included and simply buys the most acceptable dishes from the à la carte menu available locally.
Our advertisements and your confirmation will indicate your meal plan. In some instances it may be possible to upgrade your meal plan, offering you the opportunity of being able to budget for extra costs before you go. In some cases you may find the cost of the meal cheaper locally, however we regret that it will not be possible to refund the difference either during or after your holiday. Pre booked meals may be subject to dining in the main restaurant only and on occasion it may be necessary to be seated with other hotel guests.
If you have paid for included meals (half board, full board or all inclusive) it may be possible in some hotels to ask for a credit from the table d'hôte dinner to be used against a meal in an à la carte restaurant. However the value of the voucher may be considerably less than the half board supplement included in your holiday price.

2.14 Upgrading Your Flight

A longhaul flight is generally not a joyride when flying in economy class on scheduled or charter flights. Flights are often full, your choice of seats may not be available, and it may not be possible to obtain seats together. In many cases a choice of upgrade options may be available, to give you a more comfortable journey at a supplement.

2.15 Flight Seat Requests And Aircraft

We strongly recommend (particularly if you are flying economy class), that you check in early if you have particular seat requests. The Travel Collection has no control over the allocation of seats by the airline and even if a request has been made with the airline to pre-book seats, no guarantee can be made that they will still be available on departure. The provision of particular seats does not constitute a term of your contract with us. Please note airlines operate both older and more modern aircraft within their fleet. We regret we cannot guarantee the type of aircraft you will travel on as this may be subject to change and general availability.
In accordance with EU directive (EC) no. 2111/2005, Article 9, we are required to bring to your attention the existence of a 'Community List' which contains details of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban within the EU Community. The Community list is available for inspection via www.dft.gov.uk.

2.16 Direct Flights

The flight routings used in connection with our holidays may be used on special fares which do not necessarily take the most direct route. Some itineraries require a change of aircraft en route. A flight that is described as direct is one where there is no need to change aircraft during the journey. However stops may be made en route for refuelling or to let passengers on and/ or off. Details of any stops will be given on your itinerary. However, should you require this information at an earlier stage, please check with our Sales staff at the time of booking, or our HelpDesk once the booking has been invoiced.

2.17 Code Share Flights

It is a common practice for scheduled airlines to use a code share system, which may include you flying with a partner airline. Where this situation arises, it is not classed as a major change.

2.18 Charter Flights

We provide these to destinations where there are usually no direct scheduled flights, and/or insufficient capacity on these services to meet demand. A charter flight is usually the cheapest and quickest way of reaching the particular destination. However, it should be noted that leg room is slightly less than in economy on some scheduled flights.

2.19 Smoking

The majority of airlines have introduced a total smoking ban on most or all of their flights and many hotels also now have a non-smoking policy in hotel rooms and public areas. Please ask at the time of booking if this information is important to you.

2.20 Special Requests

Where special requests eg. diet, room location, twin or double bedded room, a particular facility at a hotel, flight seat requests and/or particular meals etc. are an important factor in the choice of holiday, you must advise us when the booking is made. We are happy to pass your request on to the hotel or airline but cannot guarantee that it will be accommodated. We will also pass on any dietary requests to airlines but we recommend that you check directly with the airline once your tickets have been issued. The provision of any special request does not constitute a term of your contract with us.

2.21 If you have a disability

The Travel Collection is happy to give you advice and to assist you in choosing a holiday that will meet your requirements. However, because of the nature of destinations, many lack even the simplest facilities such as ramps for wheelchairs, lifts etc. Therefore in order to assist we must at the time of booking be provided with full details in writing regarding your disability and any special requirements as a result of this. An appropriate medical form will be sent to you for this purpose.

2.22 Excursion/Meal Packages

Excursion or meal packages which we offer are not always cheaper than buying the same arrangements locally. It is often the case that these packages are offered for the convenience of being both booked and paid for in the UK. The cost of any unused tours within excursion packages may not be refunded.

2.23 Weather

World weather is becoming more erratic and unpredictable and we cannot be held responsible for disruption to your holiday due to bad or unusual weather conditions.
Our information sheets provide information on the weather relevant to the destinations you are visiting. The information is supplied by the Meteorological Office, local tourist offices and other sources and is given as a guide only. Our Sales team is happy to advise on weather trends as many of our destinations have a tropical climate where heavy rainfall and strong winds (sometimes hurricane force) do occur at certain times of the year, however world weather patterns are now becoming more and more erratic resulting in unusual rainfall, storms and even floods.
Most people go on holiday to spend time in the sunshine and although adverse weather conditions can be very frustrating Kuoni cannot assume any responsibility for the statistical information provided, nor accept liability to make refunds or pay compensation for alternative arrangements, damage to property or curtailed holidays as a result of such conditions.

2.24 Our Staff

We pride ourselves on the quality and friendly professionalism of our staff. In our search to continually try and improve our level of service, we are committed to on-going training, part of which involves the recording of phone calls.

2.25 Kuoni Offers

Please note that many of our hotels are also featured by Kuoni Travel (our parent company). Any offers/facilities detailed within their brochures are not necessarily applicable to Travel Collection clients unless otherwise stated and vice versa.

2.26 Our Prices

Please note that whilst we endeavour to offer very good value with our holidays many of the factors that decide the price are dictated by third-party suppliers and are therefore outside of our direct control. The holiday you book may previously or subsequently be available at a different price from that which you have paid.

IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE OR CANCEL YOUR HOLIDAY

3.1 Change Or Addition To Your Holiday

If you want to change any part of your holiday arrangements after the invoice has been issued, we will do our best to make the change, but it may not be possible. Any request for changes must be made in writing by the person who made the original booking. If it is possible to make the change, it will be subject to an administration charge of £35 per booking, and payment of any further costs incurred as a result of the change. Scheduled airlines normally regard name changes as a cancellation and rebooking, and any alteration may incur a 100% cancellation charge in respect of the air fare. Please note that save for the transfer of a booking (see below), it will not be possible to make changes within 28 days of your scheduled departure date.

3.2 Transferring Bookings

If any person named on a booking is prevented from travelling as a result of illness, the death of a close relative, jury service or significant reason, 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 liability for full payment of the holiday cost and any additional costs arising from the transfer. This will also be subject to our suppliers eg. airlines and/or hotels approval. We must be given at least 14 days notice of the transfer request. An administration charge will be made of £50 per person for requests made more than 61 days before departure, and £100 per person within 61 days before departure.

3.3 Cancelling Your Holiday

If you or anyone on your holiday booking decides to cancel the holiday you must notify us of the decision as soon as possible. Any notification by telephone must also be confirmed in writing or by e-mail within 24 hours by the person who made the original booking. Cancellation will take effect from the day we are notified provided that written confirmation is received by us within 24 hours of the original notification.
A cancellation invoice will be sent to you within 7 days, if you do not receive this please contact us immediately in order to prevent an increase in charges. Should you already be in receipt of your airline tickets please also return these to us along with your cancellation request. The following scale of charges will be payable depending on when the notification of cancellation is received.

Prior to 61 days: 60 - 42: 41 - 28: 27 - 7: Less than 7 days:

deposit forfeited; 30% of total holiday cost; 60% of total holiday cost; 90% of total holiday cost; 100% of total holiday cost

We would strongly recommend that you take out full insurance, which will in most cases include cover, under certain circumstances, against loss of deposit or cancellation fees. If you have taken advantage of an airline and paid a higher non-refundable deposit, the cancellation charge payable by you will be the higher of this deposit or the appropriate cancellation charge detailed above.

IF WE WANT TO CHANGE OR CANCEL YOUR HOLIDAY

4.1 Brochure Accuracy

We rigorously check the information we give about accommodation, resorts, itineraries etc., to ensure it is correct at the time of going to press. However, please bear in mind that hoteliers, restaurateurs, night club owners etc., may wish to maintain or improve their facilities, or even take a break themselves. Flight times, carriers and routes in the brochure are given for guidance only as there may be changes. Final details will be shown on your tickets. Tour, excursion, cruise or safari itineraries may change as a result of local conditions. Circumstances such as these, or weather conditions, time of year etc., may cause some of the amenities we have described to be unavailable or different from those advertised in our brochure. When we are told of any significant or long term changes we will always endeavour to advise you prior to your departure.

4.2 Building And Development Work

Many hotels and resorts are continuing to develop, sometimes rapidly and intensively and often with little or no advance warning. Whilst we have no control over such work, as a responsible tour operator, it is important to us that you are aware of any significant building/refurbishment work that may be going on during your stay. General refurbishment at hotels is necessary to maintain standards but if we are informed of such work, we will endeavour to notify you of any activity as soon as possible, however near to your departure this may be.

4.3 Flight Changes

Airlines occasionally may change the type of aircraft used on a particular flight without advance warning. Scheduled and charter flight timings, and days of operation are subject to change. We will advise you of any significant change as soon as we ourselves are informed by the airline. Minor timing changes will be shown on the flight tickets, which you should check carefully when received. Should the changes involve a reduction of your duration, we will offer you a refund of any applicable costs.

4.4 If We Change Your Holiday Before Your Departure

We hope and expect to be able to provide you with all the services we have confirmed to you at the time of booking.
We plan arrangements a long time in advance of your holiday using independent suppliers such as airlines, hotels etc., over whom we have no direct control. On occasions changes do have to be made, and we reserve the right to make these. Most of these changes are minor. However, if we consider them a SIGNIFICANT CHANGE we will endeavour to advise you as soon as reasonably possible.
A significant change includes a change of accommodation to that of a lower category and/or price, a change of flight time of more than 12 hours, a change of UK departure airport, or a significant change of resort area.
In accordance with EU regulations we are required to advise you of the actual air carrier operating your flight/connecting flight/transfer. We do this by listing carriers to be used or likely to be used on your holiday confirmation invoice. Any changes to the actual airline after you have received your tickets will be notified to you as soon as possible and in all cases at check-in or at the boarding gate. Such a change is deemed to be a minor change.
In the case of a SIGNIFICANT CHANGE before your departure we will provide you with three alternatives:
(a) alternative travel arrangements of equivalent or of very closely similar standard and price, if available.
(b) alternative travel arrangements of a lower standard together with a refund of the difference in price; or
(c) cancel your holiday with a full refund of all monies paid.
In all 3 cases, minimum compensation will be paid as detailed below unless the change occurs as a result of circumstances beyond our control.

Period before departure within which a major change is notified More than 60 days: 60 - 42 days: 41 - 28 days: 27 - 15 days: 14 - 0 days:

Compensation Per Person NIL £20 £30 £40 £50

4.5 Changes Due To Circumstances Beyond Our Control

We will not be liable to pay any compensation if we are forced to cancel or in any way change your holiday as a result of unusual or unforeseeable situations outside our control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even with all due care. These include unavoidable technical problems with transport, changes imposed by rescheduling or cancellation of flights by an airline or main charterer, the alteration of the airline or aircraft type, war or threat of war, civil strife, industrial disputes, natural disaster, bad weather, epidemic or terrorist activity.

4.6 If We Change Your Holiday Accommodation

We do not control the day to day management of your accommodation, and in exceptional cases it is possible that we may be advised that the reserved accommodation has been overbooked. If this happens before your departure or on arrival in resort we will endeavour to provide accommodation of at least the same standard in the same resort area. If only accommodation of a lower standard is available we will refund the difference in price between the accommodation booked and that available, and will pay up to £50 per person for any inconvenience.

4.7 If We Cancel Your Holiday

We reserve the right in any circumstances to cancel your holiday for any reason. However we will not cancel your holiday within 61 days of departure unless it is for a reason outside our control (see changes due to circumstances beyond our control). If we have to cancel your holiday we will offer you:-
(a) alternative travel arrangements of equivalent or of very closely similar standard and price, if available
(b) travel arrangements of a lower standard and a refund of the difference in price; or
(c) a full refund of all monies paid.
Compensation as offered for 'significant changes' will also be paid unless the holiday is cancelled because you have failed to pay on time or as a result of circumstances beyond our control. No compensation is payable if the holiday is cancelled because the number of persons who agreed to take it is less than the minimum number required and you are informed of the cancellation in writing within the period indicated in the description of the package.

4.8 Minimum Numbers

Many of our holidays are subject to a minimum number of participants required for their operation. We will advise you at least 61 days before departure if minimum numbers have not been reached. You will then have the choice of booking an alternative holiday with us, changing your departure date at the appropriate additional cost, or having a refund of monies paid.

4.9 Tours

Whilst every effort is made to operate a tour as advertised, on occasion it may be necessary to make changes to the accommodation, the routing or order of an itinerary. Often we change itineraries based on the feedback of previous guests in order to improve the service provided. Unless the change significantly alters the holiday, compensation will not be payable for minor alterations to the itinerary or nightly accommodation.

BEFORE YOUR HOLIDAY

5.1 Vaccinations

You should contact your GP or a specialist vaccination centre for details of the measures you will need to take prior to departure. Where countries require compulsory inoculations these will be advised with your invoice.
Health facilities, hygiene and disease risk vary worldwide. You should take health advice about your specific needs as early as possible and ensure that vaccinations or preventative measures such as malaria tablets are taken early enough (which may be a month or more prior to departure) to be fully effective by the date of travel. Sources of information include the Department of Health free leaflet 'Health advice for travellers' (available on request Tel. 0800 555 777), your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic. Our staff will advise on current recommendations but we would strongly recommend you contact your GP or one of the specialist vaccination centres.

5.2 Currency/Credit/Debit Cards

It is useful to take a credit or debit card with you. At many hotels they require a card as security. Most of the hotels will then allow you to sign extras, such as food and drink against your room. However, some shops (and hotels) make a surcharge for the use of a credit/debit cards. Travellers cheques are generally recommended for their additional security as insurance will only cover a limited amount of cash. It is important to keep a record of cheque numbers safe and separately from the cheques.
We suggest you keep a record of the telephone number to call in the event of the loss of your travellers cheques or credit/debit cards.
Although not as secure, cash is generally more convenient. Certain currencies cannot be taken in or out of the country and in these instances we would recommend generally taking US dollars (except Cuba), Euros or Pound Sterling. Money exchange facilities are available at most but not all of our hotels so make sure you have adequate currency. Please see our detailed information sheets for further information.
Please Note: We regret that neither we nor our representatives/agents overseas are able to advance funds to you whilst on holiday.

5.3 Luggage

Luggage allowances vary between airlines ad most are strict about this allowance making a high charge for ay excess. This allowance will be on your air tickets with your final documentation (or telephone us to check). Some airlines have specific policies for golf-clubs, diving equipment and sporting equipment but otherwise these will be subject to excess baggage charge.
Use a case/bag in good condition and label it inside with your name, home address and holiday destination. The luggage labels on the outside should not show your home address. Please use your Travel Collection baggage labels on all luggage for easy identification by our agents/representatives overseas.
For security reasons, always use your own bag and pack it yourself. Never leave your bags unattended; never check in bags for someone else; never carry anything for other people; leave any gifts unwrapped so they can be examined.
If travelling via the USA you may wish to leave your case unlocked. Whilst we would generally advise you to lock luggage, American customs reserves the right to break baggage locks during security screening and accepts no liability for damage.
Any hand luggage should be small enough to fit in overhead lockers or under the seat in front and is generally limited to 6kg and no larger than 55x40x20 cm.
All medication, spare glasses, contact lenses and fluid should be carried in hand luggage and we would recommend taking a change of clothing and basic toiletries in the event of your baggage being delayed or lost.

5.4 Airports

Please check your detailed itinerary (sent with your travel documents) for your departure terminal. Special rates are available for parking and hotels, details are sent with your invoice. Unfortunately should you miss any flight, your ticket will not be valid on an alternative flight although your travel insurance should cover you under certain circumstances. The airport representative (of our parent company Kuoni) will be available, details can be found in the important information at the end of your itinerary.

5.5 Personal Details

We would advise you leave full details of your flights, itinerary and contact details with any friends/relatives that may need to know (i.e. collecting you from the airport) as the data protection act precludes us from giving any information about your holiday arrangements to a third party. We would also recommend keeping a copy of the main page of your passport and any applicable visas somewhere safe (a scan e-mailed to an on-line e-mail account is quite convenient) in the event that you lose your documents.

ON HOLIDAY

6.1 Duty Officer

In conjunction with our parent company, Kuoni, we have a Duty Officer available out of office hours to help deal with ANY EMERGENCY INVOLVING IMMINENT DEPARTURES OR WHILST YOU ARE ON HOLIDAY. Enquiries of a general nature or for clients departing more than 7 days ahead cannot be handled by the Duty Officer. To make contact with the Duty Officer, please telephone 01306 744 435, where you will be instructed to leave a message. The Duty Officer will then contact you as soon as possible.
Please remember to record your name and contact telephone number at the beginning of the message. Please also state your holiday destination, travel date and a brief summary of the problem. If you are using a public call box, please include this in your message. It is not possible to call back on some public phones - please check this prior to making your call. Please remember it is usually necessary to delete the first '0' from the area code when dialling the UK from abroad. This telephone umber can also be used during office hours in the event of an emergency if the office numbers are engaged.

6.2 Flight Delays

In the event of a flight being delayed, we will arrange for the following to be provided, whenever practical, and subject to the airport being able to cater for this:- over 4 hours, an appropriate meal, and for delays of at least 8 hours extending beyond midnight, overnight accommodation will be provided wherever possible. However, this will depend on such factors as the expected length of delay, local availability of accommodation, immigration rulings etc. Where long flight delays result in lost holiday time, no refunds are given by hotels for unused accommodation, as rooms are held for delayed arrivals, not re-let. Our travel insurance policy offers compensation for certain flight delays.

6.3 Lost/forgotten tickets

Your air ticket is valuable and care should be taken not to lose or forget it. Should you lose or forget your ticket, please contact our local representative or our operations team, who will try to have this reissued as soon as possible. Please note some airlines are very strict with their regulations and may impose a significant charge to re-issue tickets.

6.4 Weather

We would recommend that you take suitable clothing for the climate you are visiting, especially ensuring adequate sun protection (hat, sun cream, sun glasses as well as long-sleeved, loose fitting clothes) is taken to countries where you are likely to be exposed to high levels of sunshine. Many of the countries we visit are in the tropics and the risk of exposure can be far greater than that to which you are used to in Europe.

6.5 Water/Electricity Supplies

In many of the less sophisticated destinations we feature, the water and electricity services struggle to keep up with the increased demands from tourism. Limited rainfall can put further pressure on their provision. Hotels do everything possible to maintain full services. However, occasional power cuts and/or water restrictions may be experienced.

6.6 Accommodation In The Tropics

In many hotels, especially beach resorts 'insects' in the rooms (eg. cockroaches etc) are almost inevitable. It should by no means be taken as a sign of dirtiness, simply a fact of life in these destinations. Views from some hotel rooms may be partly obscured by palm trees and other vegetation that can grow very quickly in tropical climates.

6.7 Health

In any country where there is a risk of Malaria we would recommend that you protect yourself against mosquito bites: wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers early in the morning and from dusk; sleep under a mosquito net if provided; and use a good insect repellent. Stomach upsets are relatively common and can be the result of many factors. However, please eat carefully and avoid any food that may look as if it is undercooked or has been kept in a way which may have left it susceptible to infection. If you fall ill, please contact our representative or your hotel who will assist in organising medical attention. If you decide to travel with a sterile kit please ensure it is an official one that includes a note for customs.

6.8 Watersports And Other Activities

Many hotels offer watersports and other sporting activities, in some cases these may be free of charge. Please note that in the interest of your personal safety, the operators of these activities may require that you demonstrate your competence (for example a swimming test) prior to commencement and reserve the right to refuse participation for any reason if they feel this may compromise your or another guest's safety.

6.9 Behaviour

Most people go on holiday for rest and relaxation, so if in our reasonable opinion or in the opinion of any airline pilot, hotel manager, tour leader or other person in authority, your behaviour is causing danger, damage to property or persistently affecting the enjoyment of others, we reserve the right to terminate your holiday. Should this happen no refund or compensation would be paid.

6.10 Lost Items

If you lose any personal items whilst on holiday, please obtain a written report from a local representative, or police, to help with any insurance claim upon your return.

6.11 Security

All valuables, including travellers cheques, credit cards, jewellery etc. should be kept in the hotel safety deposit box or in your room's private safe. DO NOT leave valuables in your room. In a number of countries we visit the annual income is comparatively low so it is best not to highlight your relative wealth by wearing jewellery, expensive watches or carrying bulging wallets or handbags. In many countries beggars may approach you. As a general rule we do not think it is wise to give money but leave this at your discretion. We would recommend, for those that wish to help making a contribution to a suitable charity. In the event of a theft during your holiday, it is essential that you report it to the local police within 24 hours, giving details of what is missing, what happened etc. As you are making an official statement this ust be done in person, it cannot be done on your behalf. You should obtain a written report from the police. If there is a good reason you are not able to get to the police station or a written report is not available, your insurance company MAY accept a detailed report from your hotel, guide or representative.

6.12 If You Have A Complaint While You Are On Holiday

If you have cause for complaint whilst on holiday, you must bring it to the attention of our local representative or agent and the hotel immediately. They will do their best to rectify the situation. It is unreasonable to take no action whilst on holiday, but then to write a letter of complaint upon return. If you do not raise concerns immediately, this may affect our ability to investigate and take remedial action and it may impact on the way your complaint is dealt with.

6.13 Conservation

It is becoming ever more important to conserve the world's natural resources, its landscapes, flora and fauna. Someone coined the phrase "Take only photographs; leave only footprints" and a number of countries now use this to promote conservation. It would be hard to improve on this statement.

6.14 Photography

Many countries are sensitive to what and whom is photographed. Never take photographs of uniformed officials, airports, military establishments etc. and please heed any advice given by your guide or representative. It is polite to ask before taking photographs of people. You may have to pay for the use of cameras and videos at museums and sites.

6.15 Our Commitment To You For Your Holiday Arrangements

(a) The air holidays and flights in this brochure are ATOL protected. We hold an Air Travel Organisers' Licence (ATOL 0132) granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. 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.

(b) Subject to (d), we will accept responsibility if due to fault on our part, or that of our agents or suppliers, any part of your holiday arrangements booked before your departure from the UK is not as described, or not of a reasonable standard, or if you or any member of your party is killed or injured as a result of an activity forming part of those holiday arrangements. We do not accept responsibility if and to the extent that any failure of your holiday arrangements, or death or injury: is not caused by any fault of ours, or our agents or suppliers; is caused by you; is caused by someone not connected with your holiday arrangements or is due to unforeseen circumstances which, even with all due care, we or our agents or suppliers could not have anticipated or avoided.
(c) For claims which do not involve personal injury, illness or death, the most we will have to pay if we are liable to you is twice the price, the person affected, paid for their holiday (not including insurance premiums and amendment charges). We will only have to pay this maximum amount if everything has gone wrong and you have received no benefit from your holiday. Where enjoyment of only some days has been affected, we will refund reasonable related expenses and pay a daily sum of compensation up to £50 per day per person affected.
(d) Subject to (b) above, if any failure in your holiday arrangements relates to, or if you or any member in your party is killed, injured or becomes ill during or as a result of, carriage by aircraft, ship, train or coach forming part of the holiday arrangements booked before departure from the UK, our liability to pay compensation and/or the amount of compensation we will pay is limited in accordance with the liability of the carrier under any international convention which governs such services. International Conventions which may apply include: in respect of carriage by air, the Montreal Convention 1999 or the Warsaw Convention 1929 (including as amended by the Hague Protocol of 1955 and by any of the Montreal Additional Protocol of 1975); in respect of carriage by sea, the Athens Convention 1974; in respect of rail carriage, the Berne Convention 1961; and, in respect of carriage by road, the Geneva Convention 1973. The terms of these conventions are incorporated into and form part of your contract with us. In respect of death or personal injury, the liability of an air carrier under the Montreal Convention and the Warsaw Convention is limited to damage sustained in the case of death or bodily injury caused by an accident which takes place on board the aircraft or in the course of any of the operations of embarking or disembarking. You can get copies of the relevant conventions if you ask us for them or view them online at www.kuoni.co.uk. You should also note that these conventions may limit or remove the carrier's liability to you and the amount which the carrier has to pay you. You should also know that the carrier will rely upon its 'conditions of carriage' which may limit or remove the carrier's liability to you and limit compensation under international conventions.
(e) Our suppliers (such as accommodation or transport providers) have their own booking conditions or conditions of carriage, and these conditions are binding between you and the supplier. Some of these conditions may limit or remove the relevant transport provider's or other supplier's liability to you. You can get copies of such conditions from our offices, or the offices of the relevant supplier.
(f) If we make any payment to you or any member of your party for death, personal injury or illness, you must give us or our insurers the rights you may have to take action against the person or organisation responsible for causing the death, personal injury or illness and you must co-operate fully with us in seeking recovery of any payment we make.
(g) Operational decisions may be taken by air carriers and airports resulting in delays, diversions or rescheduling. The Travel Collection has no control over such decisions, and is therefore unable to accept responsibility for them. Where, as a result of circumstances beyond our control we are obliged to change or end your holiday after departure, but before the end of your holiday, we will not pay compensation or reimburse you for expenses incurred. You should have adequate travel insurance for your holiday and claim via your insurance company for any loss or damage to luggage and/or personal possessions. In the event that any claim is made directly with us, our liability to pay compensation and/or the amount of compensation will be limited in accordance with the conventions referred to in (d).

6.16 Representative Services

Please note we do not have representative services available in all the destinations we feature and therefore you will not necessarily be met on arrival. Please ensure you refer to your itinerary which will provide the appropriate contact details should you need assistance whilst on holiday.

6.17 Curtailment

If you cut short your holiday and return home early in circumstances where you have no reasonable cause for complaint about the standard of accommodation and services provided, we will not offer you any refund for the remainder of your holiday not completed, or assist with any associated costs you may incur. Depending on the circumstances, your travel insurance may offer cover for curtailment and we suggest that any claim is made directly with them.

ON RETURN FROM YOUR HOLIDAY

7.1 Questionnaire

We are committed to improving the standard of our holidays and it is only with the help of your feedback that we will be able to achieve our aim. We would therefore appreciate it if you would spend a few moments to complete and return the questionnaire which you will find in your document wallet. The Quality Control Manager at Kuoni Travel Limited, Kuoni House, Dorking, Surrey RH5 4AZ (e-mail address CUSTOMER@KUONI.CO.UK) would also welcome and act upon any comments you would like to pass on to us.

7.2 If You Had A Problem

If a problem remains unresolved during your holiday, you should make a complaint in writing to The Travel Collection within 28 days of the completion of the holiday. Please remember to quote your holiday booking number and daytime telephone number. We will reply to you within 28 days of receipt of your letter, as laid down by the ABTA Tour Operator's Code of Conduct.

7.3 Dealing With Complaints

We certainly hope that we can settle any holiday complaints amicably, however, should this prove not to be the case you may refer any dispute relating to this contract to an Arbitrator appointed by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. The scheme provides for a simple and inexpensive method of arbitration on documents alone with restricted liability for you in respect of costs. The scheme does not apply to claims for an amount greater than £5,000 per person or £25,000 per booking form. Neither does it apply to claims which are solely in respect of physical injury or illness or their consequences, although claims which include an element of minor injury or illness can be considered subject to a limit of £1,000 on the amount the arbitrator can award per person, in respect of this element. The application for arbitration and Statement of Claim must be received by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators within nine months of the date of return from the holiday. Outside this time limit arbitration under the Scheme may still be available if the company agrees, but the ABTA Code does not require such agreement. For injury and illness claims, you may like to use the ABTA/Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Mediation Procedure. This is a voluntary scheme and requires us to agree for mediation to go ahead. The aim is to help you resolve your dispute in a quick and cost effective way. Details on request or from www.abta.com.

7.4 Our Commitment To You For Personal Injury Claims (Unconnected With Arrangements Made By Us)

Should you or any member of your party suffer illness, personal injury or death through any misadventure during your holiday arising out of an activity which does not form part of your holiday arrangements provided by The Travel Collection, we will, in our reasonable discretion, offer you advice, guidance and assistance. This may include a contribution towards your initial legal costs of making a claim against the offending party. Any contribution made by us will be limited to £5000 per booking form. Any request for assistance must be made within 90 days from the date of the misadventure in question. If you are able to make recovery of these costs whether from the third party or from a policy of insurance you may be asked to refund our outlay.