
Terms & Conditions
Conditions below apply to all bookings made with The Travel Design Company Limited.
The following terms and conditions (“booking conditions”) form the basis of your contract with The Travel Design Company Ltd. Please read them carefully as they set out our respective rights and obligations. By asking us to confirm your booking, we are entitled to assume that you have had the opportunity to read and have read these terms and conditions and agree to them.
In these booking conditions, “you” and “your” means all persons named on the booking (including anyone who is added or substituted at a later date) or any of them, as the context requires and “lead name” means the person who makes the booking. “We”, “us” and “our” means The Travel Design Company Ltd.
1.1 Confirming your holiday
1.2 Hotel grades
1.3.Single Rooms
1.4 Twin or double rooms
1.5 Triple/quad rooms
1.6 Travelling with children
1.7 Free child accommodation stays
1.8 Minimum stays
1.9 Booking a room for early arrival or late departure
1.10 Tours - general health requirements
1.11 All-inclusive and hotels for couples
1.12 Children on holiday
1.13 Under 18's travelling without parents
1.14 Public holidays
1.15 Other hotel guests
1.16 Meals
1.17 Upgrading your flight
1.18 Flight seat requests, airlines and aircraft
1.19 Code share flights
1.20 Special requests
1.21 If you have a disability or medical condition which may affect your holiday
1.22 Flight delays
1.23 Behaviour
1.24 Personal belongings and lost items
1.25 If you have a complaint while you are on holiday
1.26 Our commitment to you for your holiday arrangements
1.27 The Travel Design Company Ltd Obligations
1.28 Peak season supplements
1.29 Prices not quoted on the web site
1.30 Insurance
1.31 Travel information and documents
1.32 Changes or additions to your holiday
1.33 Transferring bookings
1.34 Cancelling your holiday
1.35 Website accuracy
1.36 Building and development work
1.37 Flight changes
1.38 If we change or cancel your holiday before your departure
1.39 Changes due to circumstances beyond our control
1.40 If we change your holiday accommodation
1.41 If we curtail your holiday after departure
1.42 Tours
1.43 Law and jurisdiction
Data Protection Policy
1.1 Confirming your holiday
When you decide to confirm your holiday with us, please ensure that you cancel any other flights which may have been held for the same dates/airlines, by other Tour Operators/Travel Agents. Failure to do so may result in the airline subsequently cancelling the flights we have booked, and additional costs being incurred to re-book.
1.2 Hotel Grades
Standards can, however, vary between hotels of the same class, in different countries, and even in the same country. It is important to carefully read the individual hotel descriptions.
1.3 Single Rooms
Single travellers generally have to pay more for a room, often up to twice the price each person in a twin room might have to pay. Please note that the standard and location of single rooms is not always comparable to that of twin/double rooms, even when you pay the single supplement.
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. This also applies to self-catering units where, for example, three people may choose to occupy accommodation priced for four.
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. We do not make additional or excessive profits from these supplements.
1.4 Twin or Double Rooms
Accommodation in all hotels, regardless of the rating, is in standard rooms (sometimes named superior/deluxe) based on twins or doubles unless otherwise stated.
1.5 Triple/quad rooms
A third or fourth person sharing a room either shares existing beds or has an extra bed (which may be of camp-bed style) placed in a double/twin room. As conditions may be cramped you may wish to consider booking two rooms.
1.6 Travelling with children
If you are travelling with young children, it is important to note that child seats are not provided for transfers and the legislation varies from country to country. If you specifically require a car seat, we advise you to take your own with you or call our contact number and we will do our utmost to try and arrange this for you - there could be an additional charge for this.
1.7 Free child accommodation stays
Where we offer 'free child accommodation stays' at many of our hotels, these are generally based on sharing existing beds in the room. If you require a separate bed, you must advise us at the time of booking, as there may well be a charge added to your booking, or this charge may be payable locally. Any meal plan charges will still apply.
1.8 Minimum stays
Minimum stays are required at certain hotels for certain periods. Where applicable these will be advised at time of booking.
1.9 Booking a room for early arrival or late departure
Generally, hotel rooms will be available between approximately noon and 3pm, 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 possible to reserve the room at the time of booking at a cost no greater than the extra night price quoted on the brochure page.
1.10 Tours - general health requirements
Many of our tours are not suitable if you have any disability or have reduced mobility (including being confined to a wheelchair). Therefore, in the interest of safety and comfort for all groups as a whole, you must be fit enough to participate or alternatively, you must have an able-bodied carer to assist you throughout the tour. Please note that some of the touring itineraries may involve early starts and long days, with substantial travel between featured sites and destinations. As vehicle and road standards may not be comparable to that of the UK, please keep this in mind when considering any personal health concerns, as well as your general comfort.
1.11 All-inclusive and hotels for couples
Some hotels specified ‘for couples’ cater for mixed-sex couples only and in some countries, such as Sri Lanka and Dubai same-sex couples are illegal. We recommend that if you are a same-sex couple, you thoroughly research your chosen hotel/destination before you book, to ensure it is suitable.
Hotels often place restrictions on restaurants and meal arrangements. All Inclusive does not necessarily mean that unlimited food and beverages are available 24-hours a day and it is uncommon for minibars to be included in such packages. Individual hotels will operate different policies and full details will be provided locally.
1.12 Children on holiday
For infants under the age of 2 years on the date of the return flight, a set charge will be applied based on short haul, long haul and longer duration long haul (Australia/New Zealand). This may vary by carrier.
Please note meals are not provided for infants. Infant charges are based on an infant sitting on an adults lap and additional charges will apply for infants requiring their own seat. 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. We do not allow holidays for children under 10 on escorted tours, coach tours or on safari (unless in private minibus). Some destinations, owing to their lack of special child or medical facilities are also not suitable for very young children but we would be happy to advise which hotels or resorts we think suit your requirements best. See the relevant price box where any specific minimum age restrictions are given.
1.13 Under 18's travelling without parents
Please note, under 18-year-olds travelling without their parents or other adults, (including friends’ parents) will need to have written authority from their parents and translated where necessary, with both notarised. This is necessary for certain countries only and you should ensure that you check the specific requirements of the relevant country to which you are travelling, as you may be refused entry.
1.14 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. The dates known to us at this time are:
1.15 Other hotel guests
Many hotels, especially in cities and major resorts, accommodate weddings, 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 that we feature. We are therefore unable to accept responsibility for any inconvenience caused by such groups or their activities.
1.16 Meals
i) 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 half board) or lunch (on full board) on the day of departure. All-Inclusive packages generally finish at check-out time on your day of departure between 10am and noon. After this time, payment for any additional meals must be made direct to the hotel. No refunds on meals not taken can be given.
ii) Special diets of any kind (including vegetarian) can seldom 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.
iii) Where breakfast is included this will more commonly be continental breakfast, although full breakfasts are provided at certain hotels. Please ask at the time of booking if this is important to you.
iv) Supplements for optional meal plans offer 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.
v) 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 a half board supplement 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. Please note that the value of the voucher will generally be considerably less than the half board supplement included in your holiday price.
vi) Hotels often place restrictions on restaurants and meal arrangements. All Inclusive does not necessarily mean that unlimited food and beverages are available 24-hours a day and it is uncommon for minibars to be included in such packages. Individual hotels will operate different policies and full details will be provided locally.
1.17 Upgrading your flight
In many cases a choice of upgrade options may be available, to give you a more comfortable journey at a reasonable supplement. Please let us know if you would like to consider upgrading your flight.
1.18 Flight seat requests, airlines 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 Design Company Ltd 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. Although some airlines offer the facility to book seats online, this is not always possible when booking a holiday through us, as the holidays we offer are based on special Tour Operator fares.
1.19 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.
1.20 Special requests
Where a special request eg. diet, room location, twin or double bedded room, a particular facility at a hotel, flight seat requests and/or particular meals etc. is an important factor in your choice of holiday, you must advise us when the booking is made. We are happy to pass your request on to the hotel, airline or other supplier 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. Confirmation that a special request has been noted or passed on to the supplier or the inclusion of the special request on your confirmation invoice or any other documentation is not confirmation that the request will be met. Unless and until specifically confirmed, all special requests are subject to availability. For your own protection, you should obtain confirmation in writing that a special request will be complied (where it is possible to give this) where it is important to you.
1.21 If you have a disability or medical condition which may affect your holiday
If you have any medical condition or disability which may affect your holiday or any special requirements as a result of any medical condition or disability (including any which affect the booking process), please tell us before you confirm your booking so that we can assist you in considering the suitability of the arrangements and/or making the booking. In any event, you must give us full details in writing at the time of booking and whenever any significant change in the condition or disability occurs. You must also promptly advise us if any medical condition or disability which may affect your holiday develops after your booking has been confirmed.
The Travel Design Company Ltd complies fully with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006 concerning the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air and is delighted to offer assistance to disabled persons or persons with reduced mobility provided that we are given full information about your specific requirements at the time of booking. Whilst we are happy to make a special request for you with the airline/s concerned, please be aware that we cannot guarantee the provision of highloaders for embarking/dis-embarking the aircraft.
1.22 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.
1.23 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 or is likely to cause danger, upset or damage to property or is persistently affecting the enjoyment of others, we reserve the right to terminate your holiday. Should this happen no refund or compensation would be paid and we will have no further responsibility for your holiday arrangements including return travel.
1.24 Personal belongings and lost items
For security reasons, valuables should be kept to a minimum and packed in your hand luggage along with your medicines, camera, film, electrical or battery-operated appliances, as well as basic essentials such as a change of clothing and toiletries. It can be easy to lose items but it is your responsibility to look after your property at all times and you must ensure you are adequately covered by comprehensive insurance. 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.
1.25 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 and they will do their best to rectify the situation.
If matters remain unresolved, It is unreasonable to take no action whilst on holiday, but then to write a letter of complaint upon your 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.
1.26 Our commitment to you for your holiday arrangements
(a) We promise to make sure that the holiday arrangements we have agreed to make, perform or provide as applicable as part of our contract with you are made, performed or provided with reasonable skill and care. Please note that EU law only applies to flights from EU airports or flights to EU airports from outside the EU or an EU airline. This means that, subject to these booking conditions, we will accept responsibility if, for example, you suffer death or personal injury or your contracted holiday arrangements are not provided as promised or prove deficient as a result of the failure of ourselves, our employees, agents or suppliers to use reasonable skill and care in making, performing or providing, as applicable, your contracted holiday arrangements. Please note, it is your responsibility to show that reasonable skill and care has not been used if you wish to make a claim against us. In addition, we will only be responsible for what our employees, agents and suppliers do or do not do if they were at the time acting within the course of their employment (for employees) or carrying out work we had asked them to do (for agents and suppliers).
Specifying a reason - 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 a holiday we will try to assist.
1.27 The Travel Design Company obligation
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, and correct errors in advertised prices and to change any of the information. Changes will be made known to you at the time of booking. 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 / higher deposit 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 or your Travel Agent is the date of booking. It is important to check the details on the invoice when you get it. If any details appear to be incorrect or incomplete, please contact us or your Travel Agent immediately as it may not be possible to make changes later. We regret we cannot accept any liability if we are not notified of any inaccuracy (for which we are responsible) in any document within 10 days of our sending it out (5 days for tickets). We will do our best to rectify any mistake notified to us outside these time limits but you must meet any costs involved in doing so. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be given a reference number. Your booking reference is also used as your unique password. It is important that you do not give your reference number to anyone or it will allow access to view, amend or cancel your booking via our website.
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 and for your repatriation in the event of our insolvency. We hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL number 9580).
When you buy an ATOL protected air inclusive holiday or flight* from us you will receive a confirmation invoice from us confirming your arrangements and your protection under our ATOL. In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the CAA will ensure that you are not left stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid to us for an advance booking.
Please note: Not all holiday or travel services offered and sold by us will be protected by the ATOL scheme
* The air inclusive holidays and flights we arrange are ATOL protected providing either the person who pays for the booking is present in the UK when the booking is made or the first leg of any flight or flights we arrange for you commences in the UK. For further information, visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk.
If we, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL certificate, are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme. You agree that in return for such a payment or benefit you assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of or relating to the non-provision of the services, including any claim against us, the travel agent (or your credit card issuer where applicable). You also agree that any such claims may be re-assigned to another body if that other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme.
1.28 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.
1.29 Prices not quoted on the web site
The Travel Design Company Ltd offers you the flexibility to create your own holiday from the range of accommodation and services available. Because of the wide choice and range of travel dates available, it is not possible to list prices. To help you in choosing a holiday which is tailor-made by us to your requirements, please call our dedicated number or write to enquiries@the traveldesigncompany.com. We will be happy to provide you with an up to date quote and work with you to ensure we have captured as many of your requirements as we can.
After your booking is taken and a deposit received, a confirmation invoice will be sent to you detailing the total cost due.
Full payment must be received not less than 61 days before departure.
If we have not received full payment at least 61 days before departure, we reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled by you and forfeit your deposit by way of cancellation charges. If we do not cancel straight away because you have promised to make payment, you must pay the cancellation charges depending on the date we reasonably treat your booking as cancelled.
Please note - 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.
1.30 Insurance
It is important that you have insurance cover and that it is adequate and suitable for your particular needs. If you fail to take out insurance and have to cancel your booking, you will be charged in accordance with our normal terms and conditions – see 3.3 – Cancelling your holiday. Furthermore, if you require medical/any other form of assistance whilst on holiday you will not be covered and you, in turn, may incur significant costs. Please read your policy details carefully and take them with you on holiday.
1.31 Travel information and documents
After booking, you will receive an invoice with important information relevant to your destination. We strongly recommend that you check the details carefully and read all of the information provided. Please ensure that you check your flight timings carefully on your tickets. The correct timings, using the 24-hour clock, may have been adjusted since you received your invoice.
1.32 Changes or additions 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, or his or her travel agent. If it is possible to make the change, it will be subject to an administration charge of £50 per booking, and payment of any further costs incurred as a result of the change. If we agree that you may change your booking to a holiday of lower value, and then you cancel that holiday, we reserve the right to levy cancellation charges on the value of the original booking. Scheduled airlines normally regard name changes as a cancellation and
1.33 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 other significant reason, we will agree to that person’s booking being transferred to another person (introduced by you) who satisfies all the conditions applicable to the package, subject to both persons accepting liability for full payment of the holiday cost and all costs and charges incurred by us and/or incurred or imposed by any of our suppliers in order to make the transfer. 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 (91 days for a cruise) before departure, and £100 per person within 61 days (91 days for a cruise) before departure. For flight inclusive bookings, you must pay the charges levied by the airline concerned. As most airlines do not permit name changes after tickets have been issued for any reason, these charges are likely to be the full cost of the flight. If you request to change all names on a booking, this will be considered as a cancellation and new booking and full cancellation charges will apply.
1.34 Cancelling your holiday
If you or anyone on your holiday booking decides to cancel the holiday, the lead name 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 lead name. 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 or your travel agent within 7 days if you do not receive this please contact us immediately in order to prevent an increase in charges. You may also check your booking has been cancelled on our website, www.kuoni.co.uk. 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. Insurance premiums and amendment charges are not refundable in the event of cancellation. References to the deposit include all sums paid or payable at the time of booking.
Cancellation charge per person cancelling:
Prior to 61 days = Loss of deposit
60 – 42 days = 50% of total holiday cost
41 – 33 days = 50% of total holiday cost
32 – 15 days = 90% of total holiday cost
14 days or less = 100% of total holiday cost
NB In certain cases the airline may have applied certain ticketing deadlines to your booking and this may result in higher cancellation charges. This also applies to certain hotels, who may often charge a higher cancellation fee regardless of the above-mentioned timeframes, and you may, therefore, be charged a higher amount than detailed above. It is therefore important to enquire for details at the time of booking and cancellation.
We would strongly recommend that you take out appropriate travel insurance which provides cover against loss of deposit or cancellation fees. If you have taken advantage of an airline offer and paid a higher deposit, the cancellation charge payable by you will be the higher of this deposit or the appropriate cancellation charge detailed above.
1.35 Website accuracy
We rigorously check the information about accommodation, resorts, itineraries etc., to ensure it is correct to the best of our knowledge. Advertised web copy descriptions and facilities may change before and after you book. Please check the up to date position at the time of booking. 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 or other situations beyond our control etc., may cause some of the amenities we have described to be unavailable or different from those advertised. When we are told of any significant or long term changes we will always endeavour to advise you prior to your departure.
1.36 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 where this can reasonably be expected to have an effect on your holiday, we will endeavour to notify you of it as soon as possible, however near to your departure this may be.
1.37 Flight changes
Any flight timings and routings shown on our website, within our brochures and/or detailed within your confirmation invoice are for guidance only and may be subject to change. They are set by airlines and are determined by various factors including air traffic control restrictions, weather conditions, potential technical problems and the ability of passengers to check in on time. Any changes to such arrangements are outside of our control.
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 changes. Minor timing changes will be shown on the flight tickets, which you should check carefully when received. Should the changes involve a reduction in the duration of your holiday, we will offer you a refund of any applicable costs. Any change in the identity of the airline, flight timings and/or aircraft type (if advised) will not entitle you to cancel or change to other arrangements without paying our normal charges except where specified in these conditions.
1.38 If we change or cancel 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, occasionally, changes are significant.
A significant change includes a change of accommodation to that of a lower category and/or price for the whole or a major part of your time away, a change of flight time of more than 12 hours, a change of UK departure airport (except between London airports), or a significant change of resort area. Similarly, we do our best to avoid cancelling holidays but we must reserve the right to do so. However, we promise we will only cancel your confirmed booking after you have made full payment where we are forced to do so as a result of ‘force majeure’ as defined below or lack of minimum numbers. Please note, some of our holidays require a minimum number of participants to enable us to operate them. If the minimum number of bookings required for a particular holiday has not been received, we are entitled to cancel it. We will notify you or your travel agent of cancellation for this reason no later than 61 days prior to departure.
If we have to make a significant change or cancel, we will tell you as soon as possible. If there is time to do so before departure, we will offer you the choice of the following options:-
1.39 Changes due to circumstances beyond our control
Except where otherwise expressly stated in these booking conditions, we regret we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of our obligations under our contract with you is prevented or affected by or you otherwise suffer any damage, loss or expense of any nature as a result of "force majeure". In these booking conditions, "force majeure" means any event or circumstances which we or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events may include, whether actual or threatened, war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, natural or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions, epidemics, fire and other situations which are outside our control.
1.40 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 or your accommodation may have to be changed for other reasons. 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 between the accommodation booked and that available and will pay up to £50 per person for any inconvenience.
1.41 If we curtail your holiday after departure
Very rarely, we may be forced by "force majeure" (see 4.6) to change or terminate your holiday after departure but before the scheduled end of your time away. This is extremely unlikely but if this situation does occur, we regret we will be unable to make any refunds (unless we obtain any refunds from our suppliers), pay you any compensation or meet any costs or expenses you incur as a result. Please ensure you have adequate travel insurance in place to cover any such eventuality.
1.42 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. Unless the change significantly alters the holiday, compensation will not be payable for minor alterations to the itinerary or nightly accommodation.
1.43 Law and jurisdiction
We both agree that English Law (and no other) will apply to your contract and to any dispute, claim or other matter of any description (hereinafter referred to as “claim”) which arises between us (except as set out below). We both also agree that any claim (and whether or not involving any personal injury) must be dealt with under the ABTA arbitration scheme (if the scheme is available for the claim in question and you wish to use it – see 6.3) or by the Courts of England and Wales only unless, in the case of Court proceedings, you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland. In this case, proceedings must either be brought in the Courts of your home country or those of England and Wales. If proceedings are brought in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you may choose to have your contract and claim governed by the law of Scotland/Northern Ireland as applicable (but if you do not so choose, English law will apply).
Data Protection Policy
For the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998, we are a data controller. In order to process your booking, send you a brochure or respond to an enquiry, we need to collect personal data from you. Depending on what’s required, the personal data we collect may include names and contact details, credit/ debit card or other payment information and special requirements such as those relating to any disability or medical condition which may affect holiday arrangements and any dietary restrictions which may disclose your religious beliefs (“sensitive personal data”). All references in this privacy policy to personal data include sensitive personal data unless otherwise stated. The person who makes the booking is responsible for ensuring that other members of your party are aware of our booking conditions and this privacy policy and that they consent to your acting on their behalf in your dealings with us.
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.
Visa information can change at short notice, please check www.gov.uk for the latest foreign travel advice. For assistance with any visa enquiry, we recommend CIBT Visas. http://www.cibtvisas.co.uk/kuonivisas
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of all necessary travel and health documents before departure. All costs incurred in obtaining such documentation must be paid by you. We regret we cannot accept any liability if you are refused entry onto any transport or into any country due to failure on your part to carry all required documentation. If failure to have any necessary travel or other documents results in fines, surcharges or other financial penalty or expenses being imposed on or incurred by us, you will be responsible for reimbursing us accordingly.
The Travel Design Company Limited